EFFECT OF MECHANICAL VESTIBULAR STIMULATION ON HAND FUNCTION IN CHILDREN WITH HEMIPARETIC CEREBRAL PALSY

Objective: To investigate the effects of mechanical vestibular stimulation on fine motor skills and hand grip strength in children with hemiparetic cerebral palsy. Methods: Sixty hemiparetic cerebral palsied children of both sexes, ranging in age from 4to 6years participated in this study. They are randomly assigned into two groups: control group (A) and study group (B). Children in group A received the designed physical therapy program. Children in group B received the same physical therapy program given to group Afor 45 min then mechanical vestibular exercise for 15 mins. Fine motor skills, including visual motor integration, grasp and fine motor quotient evaluated using Peabody Developmental Motor Scale (PDMS-2) while hand grip strength measured using Jamar Handheld Dynamometer before and after three months of treatment. Results: This study showed a statistically significant improvement in the two groups when comparing their pre and post treatment mean values of all measured variables. When comparing the post-treatment results, there were significant differences between groups A and B in favor of group B regarding all measured variables. Conclusion: Mechanical vestibular stimulation is better added to the rehabilitation program to improve fine motor skills and hand grip strength in children with hemiparetic cerebral palsy.