Effect of Laser Acupuncture on the Power of Lower Limb Muscles in Children with Spastic Cerebral Palsy

EITEDAL M. DAOUD, Ph.D., SAHAR M.A. HASSANEIN, Ph.D., M.D.;; NASHWA K.A. EBADA, M.Sc., DALIA M.E. EL MIKKAWY, M.D.;

doi:10.21608/mjcu.2021.167857

Effect of Laser Acupuncture on the Power of Lower Limb Muscles in Children with Spastic Cerebral Palsy

Authors

The Department of Pediatrics, Faculty of Medicine, Ain Shams University*, Department of Complementary Medicine, Medical Research Division, National Research Centre** and Department of Physical Medicine, Rheumatology & Rehabilitation, Faculty of Medicine, Ain Shams University***

10.21608/mjcu.2021.167857

Abstract

Abstract Background: Cerebral palsy (CP) is defined asneurode-velopmental disorder that occurs due to disturbance in the development of the central nervous system. Laser acupuncture is a technique with minimal side effects and safe for chil-drenand can be used as an alternative line of treatment in several chronic pediatric diseases. Aim of Study: To assess the efficacy of using a six weeks course of laser acupuncture on muscle strength in children with diplegic or quadriplegic cerebral palsy. Patients and Methods: A randomized controlled trial; that was conducted in the neuropediatric clinic of the National Research Centre, Egypt and Outpatient Clinic of Ain Shams Children Hospital from 2018 to February 2020. It included 40 children with spastic CP. They were randomly assigned to two equal groups (n=20), laser acupuncture group and control group. Both groups received physiotherapy for successive 6 weeks; while only the study group also received low-level laser 650nm with 50mW powers that was applied at each acupoint for 30s giving an energy density of 1.8J/cm2). Results: Power of hip flexors and knee extensors were significantly increased in laser acupuncture group compared to the control group, p < 0.001. Conclusion: Laser acupuncture has a beneficial effect on hip flexors and knee extensors muscles strength compared with the control group in children with spastic cerebral palsy.

Keywords