Vojta Therapy Affects Trunk Control and Postural Sway in Children with Central Hypotonia: A Randomized Controlled Trial

• Published in: Children (Basel) 2022-09, Vol.9 (10), p.1470
• Main Authors: Ha, Sun-Young, Sung, Yun-Hee
• Format: Article
• Language: English
• Subjects: Abdomen; abdominal muscle; Child development deviations; Clinical trials; Developmental disabilities; gross motor function; hypotonia; Pediatrics; Physiological aspects; postural sway; Posture; Software; trunk control; Ultrasonic imaging
• ISSN: 2227-9067; 2227-9067
• DOI: 10.3390/children9101470

(1) Background: Decreased trunk stability is accompanied by delay in motor development in children with central hypotonia. We investigated the effect of Vojta therapy on trunk control in the sitting position in children with central hypotonia. (2) Methods: In 20 children with central hypotonia, Vojta therapy was applied to the experimental group (n = 10) and general physical therapy to the control group (n = 10). The intervention was applied for 30 min per session, three times a week, for a total of six weeks. We assessed abdominal muscle thickness, trunk control (segmental assessment of trunk control), trunk angle and trunk sway in a sitting position, and gross motor function measure-88. (3) Results: In the experimental group, the thicknesses of internal oblique and transversus abdominis were significantly increased (p < 0.05). The segmental assessment of trunk control score was significantly increased (p < 0.05), and the trunk sway significantly decreased (p < 0.05). Gross motor function measure-88 was significantly increased (p < 0.05). (4) Conclusions: Vojta therapy can be suggested as an effective intervention method for improving trunk control and gross motor function in children with central hypotonia.