Effectiveness of Dynamic Neuromuscular Stabilisation and Neurodevelopmental Therapy on Gross Motor Function and Trunk Control in Children with Spastic Diplegic Cerebral Palsy: A Protocol for a RCT

Introduction: The Dynamic Neuromuscular Stabilisation (DNS) technique uses feed forward feedback to involuntarily activate the diaphragm and deep abdominal muscles prior to purposeful movement in humans. It is an efficient approach for facilitating deep core muscle activation of the underactive muscle chain consisting of the Internal Oblique (IO), transverse abdominals and diaphragm, thereby enhancing age appropriate jumping, walking and standing, in participants with Spastic Diplegic Cerebral Palsy (SDCP), whereas the primary goal of Neurodevelopmental Therapy (NDT) is to facilitate more normal movement patterns for performing performance skills and rectifying abnormal postural tone.

Need of the study: Even though studies have been done in the past, utilising DNS and NDT in children with diplegic CP, for improving core stability, balance, posture and diaphragmatic movement; however, Gross Motor Function (GMF) and trunk control are the aspects that have not been aimed with DNS. There is scarcity in the literature related to impact of DNS on GMF and trunk control in children with diplegic CP. As DNS has specific role on core strength it can be a valuable in the management of trunk control. Because no study comparing the impact of DNS and NDT on trunk control and functions of gross motor in diplegic children has been found; there is a strong need to perform a study to evaluate the same.

Aim: To compare the impact of DNS to NDT on gross motor performance and trunk control in children with SDCP.

Materials and Methods: It will be a Randomised Clinical Trial (RCT) with the assessor blinded, conducted in the Outpatient Department of Physiotherapy, AVBRH Sawangi, Meghe, Wardha, Maharashtra, India, from July 2022 to April 2023. Following the baseline assessments, children with SDCP (n=36) will be enlisted and randomly assigned into two groups, groups A and group B. Group A will be treated using conventional therapy along with NDT; group B will be given conventional therapy as well as DNS. Treatment will be given for four weeks, five days a week. On the first and the last day of the intervention, primary outcome measures Gross Motor Function Measure-88 (GMFM-88), Trunk Impairment Scale (TIS) and secondary outcome measure Modified Ashworth Scale (MAS) will be employed (on the first day and after the completion of four weeks). Mini-mental Scale Examination (MMSE) will be used as inclusion criteria for the children. Statistical analysis will be carried out using Statistical Package for the Social Sciences (SPSS) software version 27.0.

Conclusion: The present study is expected to prove DNS approach to be successful in enhancing the control of the trunk and gross motor abilities in children with SDCP