Effect of oral sensorimotor stimulation on oropharyngeal dysphagia in children with spastic cerebral palsy: a randomized controlled trial

BACKGROUND: Children with cerebral palsy show various degrees of dysphagia causing late development of oral motor skills AIM: The aim of this study is to investigate effect of oral sensorimotor stimulation on oropharyngeal dysphagia in children with spastic quad DESIGN: This was a double-masked, randomized controlled clinical trial. SETTING: Outpatient Clinics of Faculty of Physical Therapy, Cairo University and Modern University of Technology and Information. POPULATION: A convenient sample of 71 children age ranged from 12 to 48 months diagnosed with spastic quadriplegia, were randomly assigned into two groups. METHODS: Children in the control group received 90 minutes conventional physical therapy training five times/week for four successive months while those in the experimental group received 20 minutes of oral sensorimotor stimulation before the same program as in control group. Oral motor function, body weight, segmental trunk control and gross motor function were assessed at base-line and after completing treatment. RESULTS: Overall, 64 (32 in the experimental group, 32 in the control group) children completed treatment and data collection. The baseline assessment showed non-significant difference regarding all measured variables while with-in group comparison showed significant improvement in the two groups. The post-treatment comparisons revealed significant difference the oral motor function and physical growth in favor of the experimental group (P<0.05). Finally, there was non-significant difference regarding segmental trunk control and gross motor function (P>0.05). CONCLUSIONS: Oral sensorimotor stimulation has the capability to improve feeding in children with spastic cerebral palsy diagnosed with CLINICAL REHABILITATION IMPACT: OSMS has effect on some of the essential oral motor skills that contribute toward the improvement of feeding performance in children with spastic CP. The results of our study offer remarkable clinical importance for the children and their families.