Your Therapy Source Magazine for Pediatric Therapists March 2015 | Page 7

Benefits of Aquatic Therapy for Children with CP

Journal of Child Neurology published a research study on the effects of pediatric aquatic
therapy on motor function, enjoyment, activities of daily living, and health-related quality of life
for 11 children in the experimental group with spastic cerebral palsy of different motor abilities.
The results indicated the following:
1. the pediatric aquatic therapy group had greater average 66-item Gross Motor Function
Measure following intervention than the control group including children with Gross Motor
Function Classification System level IV
2. the pediatric aquatic therapy group had higher Physical Activity Enjoyment Scale scores
than the control group at post-treatment.
The researchers concluded that pediatric aquatic therapy can be an effective and alternative
therapy for children with cerebral palsy even with poor Gross Motor Function Classification
System level.
Reference: Lai, C et al. Pediatric Aquatic Therapy on Motor Function and Enjoyment in
Children Diagnosed With Cerebral Palsy of Various Motor Severities Published online before
print June 5, 2014, doi: 10.1177/0883073814535491 J Child Neurol February 2015 vol. 30 no.
2 200-208
Follow us on Pinterest
www.Pinterest.com/ytherapysource

Follow our blog at
www.YourTherapySource.com/blog1

Follow us on Facebook
www.Facebook.com/YourTherapySource

Follow us on Twitter
www.Twitter.com/YTherapySource

www.YourTherapySource.com