Cerebral Palsy
Cerebral palsy (CP) refers to a group of permanent movement disorders that appear at birth in 2.1/1000 births (Oskoui, Coutinho, Dykeman, Jetté & Pringsheim, 2013). These movement disorders result from damage or abnormal development of the parts of the brain responsible for movement, balance, and posture. This may manifest as poor coordination, stiff/weak muscles, tremors, and a number of other cognitive issues which can be read about here. Symptoms vary from individual to individual and as such, several sub-types have been classified:
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Spastic cerebral palsy- Classified by stiff muscles
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Ataxic cerebral palsy - Classified by poor coordination
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Athenoid (dyskinetic) cerebral palsy - Classified by writhing movements
Common management strategies for CP aim to target stiff/weak muscles and improve coordination to achieve functional goals. Diazepam, baclofen, and botulinum toxin are medications used to relieve spasticity in muscles. In some cases, surgery may be used to lengthen muscles or sever overactive nerves. However, many medicinal therapies are only symptom relievers and do not address the function and physical abnormalities of the underlying muscle. As such, physical therapy is vital in helping these patients to address their deficits. Physical therapy for CP may address the following areas: motor function (including gait, transfers and upper limb use), balance, or muscular length and strength.
Ongoing management is required as proper functioning of damaged parts of the brain cannot be restored. Therefore, an array of useful therapies is required to offer fresh and adaptable intervention. As CP presents in early childhood, effective therapies must be appealing to children in order to encourage their participation.
Virtual reality (VR) interventions may offer a solution to this demand. Video games are very popular amongst children, so video games which help to improve their functional deficits seems to be a logical combination in CP therapies. The following VR based interventions have evidence for their use in CP patients:
References
Oskoui, M., Coutinho, F., Dykeman, J., Jetté, N., & Pringsheim, T. (2013). An update on the prevalence of cerebral palsy: a systematic review and meta-analysis. Developmental Medicine & Child Neurology, 55(6), 509-519. doi: 10.1111/dmcn.12080