Effects of vojta therapy on gait of children with spastic diplegia

Hyungwon Lim, Tackhoon Kim, Hyungwon Lim, Tackhoon Kim

Abstract

[Purpose] This study aimed to investigate the effects of Vojta therapy on spatiotemporal gait parameters in children with spastic diplegia. [Methods] The study population consisted of 3 children diagnosed with spastic diplegia. The subjects were treated with Vojta therapy for 8 weeks and followed up for 8 weeks after completion of the therapy. Vicon motion analysis was used to determine the subjects' spatiotemporal gait parameters. [Results] The following results were noted in the changes of each joint angle in the sagittal plane after Vojta therapy. Subject 1 remained in phase throughout the entire gait cycle and did not show any noticeable improvement, even demonstrating a negative range of motion when compared to the baseline. Subject 2 showed a normal anti-phase in heel strike, and the mid-stance, and swing phases. Subject 3 showed a normal anti-phase in heel strike and mid-stance, but the anti-phase during the swing phase was not significantly different from the baseline. For subjects 2 and 3, compared to the baseline, the range of motion of the hip and knee increased but the range of motion of the ankle decreased. [Conclusion] The findings of this study indicate that Vojta therapy can do a good role in improve the spatiotemporal gait parameters of children with spastic diplegia.

Keywords: Spastic diplegia; Spatiotemporal gait parameter; Vojta therapy.

Figures

Fig. 1.
Fig. 1.
The application of 4 Vojta therapies used to treat the three children with spastic diplegia. a. Reflex creeping, b. Vojta’s 3-point supporting, c. Vojta’s Erste position, d. Varied reflex creeping

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