Investigation of the effect os passive stretching exercises on 10 meters walking time of in patients with spastic cerebral palsy

AIM: The primary aim of this study is was investigate the effect of passive stretching exercises on 10 minute walking time in patients with spastic cerebral palsy. Secondary aim was to investigate the effect of passive stretching exercises on spasticity according to Modified Ashworth Scale. METHOD: 30 Cerebral palsy patients (male: 15, female: 15, hemiparetic: 17, diparetic: 10, quadriparetic: 3) with levels I and II according to the Rough Motor Functional Classification System, aged between 4 and 18 years, were included in the study. Passive stretching was applied to each patient for 2 sessions per week for a total of 16 sessions. Applied to all patients 30 seconds with 5 repetetions of passive stretching (5X30 repetitions / second) for each muscle. Passive stretching was applied only to the affected leg of hemiparetic patients and bilateral lower extremity muscles of diparetic and quadriparetic patients. Modified Ashworth Scale values of muscules and 10-meter walk time tests were compared in all patients. RESULT: When 10-meter walking time were compared, after 8 sessions and 16 sessions, the time for hemiparetic patients was (p<0,004), for diparetic patients was (p<0,005),but for quadriaparetic was (p<0,109). Spasticity severity decreased for gastrocnemius soleus, hip adductors and hip flexors. Spasticity severity decreased at these muscules for diparetic patients: gastroceminus , hip flexors and quadriceps femoris for right foot ; hip adductors and quadriceps femoris for left foot. There wasnt ant decrasing at quadriparetic patients' muscules. As a result, passive stretching exercises decrased severity of spastic cerebral palsy and walking time. It is tought that passive stretching exercises should be in physical therapy programs. Key Words: Passive Stretch, Cerebral Palsy, Spasticity, Treatment, Walking time