ERIC Number: EJ961919
Record Type: Journal
Publication Date: 2010-Nov
Pages: 12
Abstractor: As Provided
ISBN: N/A
ISSN: ISSN-0194-2638
EISSN: N/A
Aquatic Therapy for a Child with Type III Spinal Muscular Atrophy: A Case Report
Salem, Yasser; Gropack, Stacy Jaffee
Physical & Occupational Therapy in Pediatrics, v30 n4 p313-324 Nov 2010
Spinal muscular atrophy (SMA) is a neuromuscular disorder characterized by degeneration of alpha motor neurons. This case report describes an aquatic therapy program and the outcomes for a 3-year-old girl with type III SMA. Motor skills were examined using the 88-item Gross Motor Function Measure (GMFM), the Peabody Developmental Motor Scales (PDMS-2), and the GAITRite system. The child received aquatic therapy twice per week for 45-min sessions, for 14 weeks. The intervention included aquatic activities designed to improve gross motor skills and age-appropriate functional mobility. The GMFM total score improved by 11% following the intervention. The Standing Dimension score improved by 28% and the Walking, Running, and Jumping Dimension score improved by 18%. The gross motor quotient for the PDMS-2 improved from 66 to 74. The child's gait showed improvement in walking velocity, stride length, and single-limb support time as a percentage of the gait cycle. The outcomes of this case report demonstrate the successful improvement of gross motor function and gait in a 3-year-old child with SMA. This study provides clinical information for therapists utilizing aquatic therapy as a modality for children with neuromuscular disorders. (Contains 6 tables.)
Descriptors: Intervention, Physical Activities, Therapy, Motor Development, Aquatic Sports, Water, Neurological Impairments, Muscular Strength, Case Studies, Young Children, Females, Neurology, Psychomotor Skills, Rehabilitation, Outcomes of Treatment
Informa Healthcare. Telephone House, 69-77 Paul Street, London, EC2A4LQ, UK. Tel: 800-354-1420; e-mail: healthcare.enquiries@informa.com; Web site: http://informahealthcare.com/action/showJournals
Publication Type: Journal Articles; Reports - Evaluative
Education Level: N/A
Audience: N/A
Language: English
Sponsor: N/A
Authoring Institution: N/A
Identifiers - Assessments and Surveys: Peabody Developmental Motor Scales
Grant or Contract Numbers: N/A