A comparison of Immediate Effect between Traditional Thai Massage and Passive Static Stretching on Alteration of Spasticity and Walking ability in Children with Cerebral Palsy

Abstract

Objective: To compare the immediate effects between traditional Thai massage and passive static stretching on alteration of spasticity and walking distance in children with cerebral palsy

Materials and Methods: The study was randomized controlled trial participants who met the inclusion criteria were randomly allocated to the traditional Thai massage (TTM) or passive static stretching (PSS). The stratified (manual matching) randomized allocation was performed using gender (male and female) and Gross Motor Function Classification System (GMFCs) (level I-III). The level of muscle spasticity was measured using Modified Ashworth Scale (MAS) and walking ability using one minute walk test (1MWT) before and after immediate treatment of TTM and PSS.

Results: Thirteen children with cerebral palsy (CP) were recruited. After randomization, 7 and 6 of them were allocated into TTM group and the other group were PSS, respectively. All characteristics were similar in both group with no statistical different (p>0.05). After treatment, 5 participants (71.43 %) in the TTM group had reduced the MAS of left quadriceps greater than in the PSS group which reduced only 1 child (16.67 %, p = 0.0483). However, the other muscles did not show any statistically significant change (p > 0.05) in right quadriceps p = 0.135, right and left hamstrings p = 0.42 and 0.553 respectively. After treatment, the 1MWT did not show significant change in each group and no difference between groups as well (p = 0.659).

Conclusion: This present study showed that the TTM was the effective in left quadriceps muscles for reduction of spasticity in children with CP. No significant increasing walking distance after treatment both the TTM and PSS.

Keywords:  Traditional Thai Massage, Passive Static Stretching, Spasticity, Cerebral palsy, Modified Ashworth Scale, Walking ability