TO STUDY THE EFFICACY OF ELECTROMYOGRAPHIC BIOFEEDBACK TRAINING ON DYNAMIC EQUINUS DEFORMITY AND GAIT IN CHILDREN WITH SPASTIC CEREBRAL PALSY

Cerebral palsy (CP) is caused by static lesion to a developing nervous system that primarily affects motor function. Spastic motor involvement is characteristic of most of these individual.Dynamic equinus is a common deformity that worsens the ambulatory ability of both diplegic and hemiplegic conditions. The use of electromyographic (EMG) biofeedback has been suggested as a training tool to improve the ability to increase activation of weak and partially paralyzed muscles and to decrease the activation of muscles affected by spasm or spasticity without regard to specific diagnosis. However, very few studies have reported the effects of EMG biofeedback on ankle function among children with spastic cerebral palsy .Objectives of the study was to increase the activation of tibialis anterior and to improve the functional ambulation.40 subjects were made part of the study on the basis of inclusion and exclusion criteria divided into two groups group A and B.Group A received traditional physical therapy exercises and electromypgraphic biofeedback and group B received only exercise program. The treatment duration was for 4weeks 3 sessions a week. The results were analysed using statistical tests that were paired and unpaired t-test and mann whitney test.The results showed significant improvement in the pre and post treatment. The conclusion of the study lended a favourable outlook to use biofeedback training in treatment of CP children, to improve functional ambulation and gait.