Investigation of parents’ compliance in physical therapy at home with toddlers diagnosed with cerebral palsy

Abstract

Cerebral palsy (CP) is a disruption of the body’s motor functions due to poor development of the motor areas of the brain that regulate, control and coordinate movements to maintain a smooth and synchronized posture and movement of the body. This central disability is usually accompanied by other disorders such as epilepsy, speech deficits, hearing challenges, vision impairment and intellectual disability. The goals of the physiotherapy program are the pursuit of normal muscle tone, movement, the appropriate stimulus to help the child move, promoting orientation and balance reactions. The prevention of deformities is very important and children with CP should be trained in posture and walking. The purpose of the present study was to investigate the compliance of parents in home physiotherapy with infants/toddlers diagnosed with CP. The study involved 63 parents, with toddlers aged 1 to 6 years diagnosed with CP. A special questionnaire was used as a measurement tool, completed by parents of children with CP. The questionnaires were collected through personal interviews, face to face during the period April – September 2019 and descriptive statistics and correlation analysis were performed. Based on a previous investigation, it was found that the percentage of parents who comply is 40%. The reasons for their compliance depend mainly on the program. In the view of the parents involved in our study, for a home treatment program to be applicable it should include simple, comprehensible, fun exercises adapted to daily activities. According to the findings of this study, it has been suggested that Physiotherapists should develop effective teaching techniques, in order to get parents more involved in the home exercise program. Creating a parent-physiotherapist confidence plays an important role.

Keywords:

Cerebral palsy, parental compliance, physical therapy at home, toddlers