Effect Of PNF Stretching Method Combined With VR Walking Robot On Lower Limb Motor Ability In Children With Spastic Cerebral Palsy

Objective: This study aims to explore the effect of PNF stretching combined with VR walking robot training on lower limb motor ability in children with spastic cerebral palsy.Research methods: Forty children with mild to moderate spastic cerebral palsy who met the experimental inclusion criteria were selected from the Affiliated Hospital of the Rehabilitation Research Center of Shanxi Province.The children were randomly divided into four groups with 10 people in each group,namely,the control group(EG),the proprioceptive neuromuscular facilitation therapy group(PNF),the virtual reality walking robot group(VR),and the PNF+VR group.The control group only received routine rehabilitation treatment,while the other three groups added PNF stretching training,VR walking robot training,and two types of joint training on the basis of routine rehabilitation treatment,with the total time of each training being the same.The gross motor function,lower limb muscle tension,balance function,lower limb motor function,joint activity,and bone mineral density of the children were measured and statistically analyzed before and after 12 weeks of training.Research results:(1)Effect on gross motor function of children: After 12 weeks of training,PNF group and PNF+VR group were superior to EG group,with significant differences(P<0.01);After 12 weeks of training,the PNF+VR group was superior to the PNF group and the VR group,with a significant difference(P<0.05).(2)The effect on lower limb muscle tone of children: After 12 weeks of training,PNF group and PNF+VR group were better than EG group,with significant differences(P<0.05);After 12 weeks of training,the PNF+VR group was superior to the PNF group and the VR group,with a significant difference(P<0.05).(3)The effect on children’s balance function: After 12 weeks of training,the PNF+VR group was superior to the EG group,with a significant difference(P<0.01);After 12 weeks of training,the PNF+VR group was superior to the PNF group and the VR group,with a significant difference(P<0.05).(4)The effect on children’s lower limb motor ability: After 12 weeks of training,the PNF+VR group was superior to the EG group,with a significant difference(P<0.01);After 12 weeks of training,the PNF+VR group was superior to the PNF group and the VR group,with a significant difference(P<0.05).(5)The effect on children’s joint activity: After 12 weeks of training,the PNF group was superior to the EG group,with a significant difference(P<0.05).The PNF+VR group was superior to the EG group,with a significant difference(P<0.01);After 12 weeks of training,the PNF+VR group was superior to the PNF group and the VR group,with a significant difference(P<0.05).(6)Effect on bone mineral density of children: After 12 weeks of training,there was no significant change in the four groups of children,with no statistical difference(P>0.05).Research conclusions:1.PNF stretching combined with VR walking robot training can effectively improve the gross motor function,balance function,lower limb motor function,and joint activity of children with spastic cerebral palsy,while reducing the lower limb muscle tension of children,thereby improving the lower limb motor ability of children.2.The effect of PNF stretching combined with VR walking robot training on bone mineral density in children with spastic cerebral palsy is not significant.3.The improvement effect of PNF stretching combined with VR walking robot training on lower limb motor ability of children with spastic cerebral palsy is better than that of PNF stretching alone or VR walking robot training alone.