Effectiveness of Neurodevelopmental Treatment and Sensory Integration Therapy on Gross Motor Function, Balance and Gait Parameters in Children With Spastic Diplegia

Background Spastic diplegic cerebral palsy is the type that is most frequently seen in clinical settings. Spastic diplegic children have trouble maintaining their balance, gait, and gross motor function. This study investigated the effects of the Neurodevelopmental Technique (NDT) and Sensory Integration Technique (SIT) on balance, gross motor function, and gait characteristics in children with spastic diplegia. Method The study's participants were 8 to 12 years old, with spastic diplegia, categorized into stages I to III of the Gross Motor Function Classification System. While individuals in group B underwent sensory integration therapy, group A's subjects received NDT for 45 minutes. Both groups received traditional physiotherapy for 15 minutes. The protocol was given for five days a week, continuously for four weeks. All 40 subjects underwent pre- and post-treatment assessments using the Gross Motor Function Measure-88 (GMFM-88), Paediatric Balance Scale, Gait Parameters, and Gross Motor Function Classification System. Results The trial involved 40 children, divided into two groups of 20 each. Statistical analysis demonstrated a substantial improvement in group B post-intervention (P>0.0001). The study's findings were drawn using the Chi-Square test, paired and unpaired t-tests, and SPSS Statistics for Windows, version 27.0 (IBM Corp., Armonk, USA).A p<0.05 and the GraphPad Prism version 7.0 (GraphPad Software, Boston, USA) were used. A total of 40 children completed the entire duration of treatment for a month. 20 subjects participated in group A (age range 8-12 years; mean age 10.3 years) and 20 subjects in group B (age range 8-12 years; mean age 10.25 years). The GMFM-88, which assesses motor function, reveals that the between-group comparison indicates a substantial difference of 7.95 (6.04-9.86) in favor of Group B, with a p-value of 0.0001, signifying statistical significance. Similarly, the Pediatric Balance Scale (PBS) outcomes significantly enhanced in both groups post-intervention. The comparison between groups yields a difference of 1.85 (1.11-2.59) in favor of Group B, with a p-value of 0.0001. Conclusion The study concluded that SIT has a positive impact on gait metrics, balance, and gross motor function in children with spastic diplegia.