The impact of conservative soft orthotic intervention with strapping on thoracic kyphotic posture and spinal mobility in children with cerebral palsy: a randomized control trial

Abstract

Background This study mainly aimed to evaluate the influences of Thera Togs orthotic undergarment with its strapping system on dorsal kyphotic posture and spinal mobility in children with spastic diplegic cerebral palsy. The study also investigated the impact of the modulation of thoracic kyphosis on balance and risk of falls in these children. Study design This study was a randomized control trial. Participants Forty children with diplegic cerebral palsy, aged from 8 to 10 years were met the inclusion criteria and participated in this study. Only 38 children completed the study. Methods The children in the control group received 2 h of conventional exercise protocol aiming for modulating thoracic kyphotic posture. The treatment program was conducted 3 times/week, for 12 successive weeks. Children in the study group wore TheraTogs orthoses with the strapping system for 8 h every day in combination with the conventional exercise program. Outcome measures For both groups, the primary outcome measures (thoracic kyphotic angle, and thoracic flexion and extension range of motion), and the secondary outcomes (the overall stability index of fall risk test, and the pediatric balance scale score) were recorded at baseline and after completion of the treatment. T test was used to compare the changes within-and between-groups in all measured variables, at baseline and immediately after 12 weeks of treatment. Results Children in the study group showed significant improvements in the scores of all primary and secondary measures post-treatment compared to the control group (P < 0.05). Conclusion Conservative treatment composed of TheraTogs orthotic system with conventional exercise treatment is effective in modulating thoracic kyphosis and improving dorsal range of motion in children with spastic diplegic cerebral palsy. This improvement has a positive influence on postural balance performance and reduces the risk of fall in these children. Trial registration The ClinicalTrial.gov PRS (NCT05063175). 30 September 2021—retrospectively registered, https://clinicaltrials.gov/ct2/show/NCT05063175