Annals of R.S.C.B., ISSN: 1583-6258, Vol. 25, Issue 4, 2021, Pages.

17315-17334
Received 05 March 2021; Accepted 01 April 2021

Sensory Integration Therapy Verses Conventional Physical Therapy

Among Children With Cerebral Palsy On Gross Motor Function – A
Comparative Randomized Controlled Trial

Dr.Pooja Kumari Mahaseth1 Aparna Choudhary2

1.Assistant Professor, Mgm School Of Physiotherapy, Aurangabad.
Constituent Unit Of Mgm Institute Of Health Sciences (Mgmihs) Deemed To Be University, Navi
Mumbai.
Poojamahaseth1993@Gmail.Com
0000-0002-1354-9487
2.Assistant Professor, Physiotherapy Department Carrer College, Bhopal.

Abstract
Background: Cerebral Palsy Is A Group Of Conditions Characterized By Motor Dysfunction Due To Non-
Progressive Brain Damage In Early Life. Worldwide The Incidence Being 2 To 2.5 Per 1000 Live Births.
Deficits In Sensory System Are Believed To Affect The Way Child Behaves, Including His Or Her Ability To
Attend, Learn, Organize As Well As Affects Children’s Ability To Perform Motor And Functional Task. With
Sensory Integration Therapy The Aim Is To Provide The Child With Graded Sensory Experiences. Purpose
Of The Study: The Purpose Of The Study Is To Determine The Sensory Integration Therapy Verses
Conventional Physical Therapy Among Children With Cerebral On Gross Motor Function. Study Design:
Experimental Study Methodology: In This Study 30 Children With Cerebral Palsy Were Included For The
Study And Divided Into Two Groups Of Group A (Conventional Physical Therapy) And Group B( Sensory
Integration Therapy With Conventional Physical Therapy Exercises). Pre And Post Intervention Assessment
Was Done For Gross Motor Function Using Outcome Measure Gmfm And By Using Short Sensory Profile.
All The Participants Of The Both Groups Were Given Exercises According To The Group For 5 Days A Week
For 6 Months. Conclusion: The Result Indicates That Sensory Integration Therapy And Conventional Physical
Therapy Exercise When Given Together Appears To Be More Effective And Powerful In Improvement Of
Gross Motor Function Among Children With Cerebral Palsy, Instead Of Just Giving Conventional Physical
Therapy Exercises.
Keywords: Cerebral Palsy; Gross Motor Function; Sensory Integration Therapy; Conventional Therapy;
Physiotherapy.
Introduction
Cerebral Palsy (Cp), A Common, Non-Progressive, Non-Changing Neurological
Disorder Of Childhood. The Range Of Severity Of Condition May Be From Total
Dependency And Immobility To Abilities Of Talking, Independent Self-Care And
Walking, Running And Other Skills. Premature Babies Are Also At A Higher Risk Of
Developing Neurological Problems. It's Critical To Understand That Cerebral Palsy
Develops During The Prenatal, Perinatal, And Postnatal Periods. It Can Be Described
As A Static Encephalopathy In Which, Despite The Fact That The Original Lesion,
Anomaly, Or Injury Is Stable, The Clinical Pattern Of Presentation Changes With
Time Due To The Central Nervous System's Growth And Developmental Plasticity
And Maturation. (1,2)

The Worldwide Incidence Of Cp Is 2 To 2.5 Per 1000 Live Births.(3). The Prevalence
Of Cp Is Higher For Children Born Preterm Or At Low Birth Weight. Some Parts Of
The World, There Is Evidence That The Prevalence Of Cp Has Declined, Particularly
For Children Born At Moderately Or Very Low Birth Weight.(4,5,6)

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Received 05 March 2021; Accepted 01 April 2021

Jane Ayers In 1972 Defined Sensory Integration As “The Neurological Process That
Organizes Sensation From One’s Own Body And From The Environment And Make
It Possible To Use The Body Effectively Within The Environment”. Ayers Focused
Her Theory On The Vestibular, Proprioceptive And Tactile Systems. (7)
Sensory Integration Signify To The Process By Which The Brain Organizes And
Interprets External Stimuli Such As Touch, Movement, Body Awareness, Sight,
Sound, And Gravity.(8) It Takes Place In The Brain And Necessitates A Delicate
Balance Between The Central And Peripheral Neural Systems, As Well As The
Excitatory And Inhibitory Neural Systems. (9)

Sensory Processing In Cerebral Palsy Has Been A Subject Of Study In Recent Years.
Blanche States That The Traditional Classification Of Cerebral Palsy Is Based On
Motor Dysfunction. Current Theories Of Motor Behaviour Support The Notion That
Movement And Sensation Are Related To Each Other.(10)

White Matter Lesions, Which Are Found In 45 Percent Of Children With Cp, Are
One Of The Most Important Drivers Of Sensory Abnormalities. The Loss Of White
Matter Can Have A Negative Impact On The Development Of Cortical And Thalamic
Areas, Which Are Involved In Sensory Processing. (11,12)
Children With Adequate Sensory Integration Of Afferent Impulses Display Adaptive
Behaviour In Daily Tasks And Meet The Demands Set By The Environment. As A
Result, Sensory Integration That Is Appropriate Increases Functional Performance.
(13,14,15)

Thus, The Systematic Evaluation Of Sensory Processing Allows Therapists To Adapt

Their Intervention Improving Sensory Integration Of The Inputs Constantly Received
From The Environment In Order To Improve Motor Performance And Adaptive
Success Of Children With Cp.(16)

Problem In Sensory Integration Leads To Sensory Integration Dysfunction (Sid)

Which Is Defined As ‘’ The Inefficient Neurological Processing Of Information
Received Through Senses Causing Problems With Learning, Developmental And
Behaviour.” One Approach To Help Children With Cp Achieve Their Optimal Level
Of Functioning Is Sensory Integration Therapy (Sit). .(17,18)

It Appears That Cerebral Palsy Children Share An Abnormal Degree Of Sensory

Processing, Whether Decreased Or Increased. Its Aim Is To Provide The Child With
Graded Sensory Experiences. It Enables The Child To Make Sense Of Their World By
Receiving, Registering, Modulating, Organizing And Interpreting The Information
That Comes To Their Brains From Their Senses. .(19,20)

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Annals of R.S.C.B., ISSN: 1583-6258, Vol. 25, Issue 4, 2021, Pages. 17315-17334
Received 05 March 2021; Accepted 01 April 2021

Sit Helps To Overcome Problems Experienced By Many Young Children In

Absorbing And Processing Sensory Information. Encouraging These Abilities
Ultimately Improves Balance And Steady Movement. So, Sensory Integration
Therapy (Sit) Is Designed To Restore Effective Neurological Processing And
Increase The Individual Ability To Integrate Sensory Information By Enhancing
Each Of These Sensory Systems. .(21,22)
Aim Of The Study
The Study Is Aim To Determine The Sensory Integration Therapy Verses
Conventional Physical Therapy Among Children With Cerebral On Gross Motor
Function

Methodology
Research Approach: Approach Used Probability Sampling Techniques
Reaerach Design: Experimental Design Which Involves Comparison Between
Experimental And Control Groups
Study Setting: Career College, Opd, Bhopal. Mgm Physiotherapy Rehabilitation And
Fitness Center, Aurangabad, Mh.
Study Duration: The Study Was Carried Out For A Period Of 6 Months
Protocol Duration: The Protocol Duration Was 5 Days A Week For 6 Months, The
Treatment Duration Was For 1 Hour.
Sample Size: 30 Children Diagnosed With Cerebral Palsy, Following The Inclusion
Criteria Were Included In The Study.

Inclision Criteria
Children With Spastic Diplegic Cerebral Palsy, Monoplegic Cerebral Palsy,
Hemiplegic Cerebral Palsy. Children With Cerebral Palsy Had Aged From 3 To 7
Years. Both Males And Females.

Exclusion Criteria
Children Having Quadriplegic Cerebral Palsy. Child Underwent Any Orthopaedic
Surgery Like That Of Foot, Leg Or Ankle. Child Underwent Medical Procedures Like
Botulinum Toxin Injections, Baclofenac Pump Or Other Treatment Effecting
Neuromuscular Transmission At Any Point. Mental Retardation And Seizures.

Outcome Tools
Gmfm Scale
Short Sensory Profile
Procedure
Cerebral Palsy Children Aged From 3 To7 Years Of Both The Sexes And The
Diagnosis Of Cerebral Palsy Was Confirmed By An Expert Pediatrician Or
Neurologist Who Visited At Study Center During Specified Schedule That Further
Met The Inclusion Criteria Were Participated In The Study.
A Total Of 43 Children Suffering From Cerebral Palsy Who Approached For
Treatment To Career College Opd, Bhopal Were Screened For The Present
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Received 05 March 2021; Accepted 01 April 2021

Experimental Study And Out Of Them 38 Children Suffering From Cerebral Palsy
Were Fulfilled The Inclusion Criteria That Deemed Fit As A Sample.
Thirty Children Diagnosed From Cerebral Palsy Were Randomly Selected As Subjects
Using Simple Random Sampling Technique (Lottery Method) From A Total Of Thirty
Eight Eligible Children Diagnosed From Cerebral Palsy That Fulfilled The Inclusion
Criteria.
Thirty Children With Cerebral Palsy Were Available For The Study And Later
Divided Into Two Equal Halves Of Size 15 That Constituted Two Study Groups And
Further Designated As “Group A” (Control Group) And “Group B” (Experimental
Group). An Ethical Clearance Was Obtained From The Ethical Committee Of Career
College, Bhopal.

Fig 6: Flow Chart Of Treatment Procedure

Group- A: Control Group (Conventional Physical Therapy Exercises)

Group A Received Conventional Balance Training Which Includes Routine Passive
Range Of Motion Exercises, Stretching Exercises, Strengthening Exercises For Lower
Limb, Trunk And Upper Limb. Transitional Exercises In Supine, Rolling, Sitting,
Crawling, Kneeling, Lying, Standing And Walking Performed By Physiotherapist On
Children.
Group- B: Experimental Group (Sensory Integration Therapy Along With
Conventional Physical Therapy Exercise)
Group B Received Sensory Integration Therapy Which Includes Several Visual
Perception, Body Awareness, Tactile Perception, Visual Motor Coordination Training,

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Annals of R.S.C.B., ISSN: 1583-6258, Vol. 25, Issue 4, 2021, Pages. 17315-17334
Received 05 March 2021; Accepted 01 April 2021

Vestibular And Proprioceptive Exercises Which Improve Child’s Ability To Process

And Integrate Sensory Information ( Visual, Perceptual, Proprioception And Auditory)
Along With Conventional Exercises Mentioned Above.

Assessment Activities
Fields
Visual Block Design, Finding Shapes In Pictures, Puzzles, Matching
Perception Geometric Shapes, Letters, Numbers

Body Pointing To The Body Parts, Life Size Drawing, Awareness

Awareness Of Body Parts Through Touch
Tactile Feeling Various Textures, Touching Boards And Feeling,
Perception Shapes, Writing On Sand, Clay/ Slime Activity
Co-Ordination Ocular Pursuit Training, Moving Ball And Peg Board Activity

Vestibular Swinging On The Swings, Turning Left And Right Side And
Jumping On Trampoline
Proprioception Joint Compression, Ball Squeezing, Ball Catch And Throw
And Wall Pushups

Fig 2: Peg Board Activity

Fig 3: Swinging On The Swings

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Received 05 March 2021; Accepted 01 April 2021

Fig 4: Ball Squeezing And Catch & Throw

These Exercises Are Progressed Gradually; The Progression Is Made When The
Patient Performs The Task Without Any Discomfort And At Ease. The Interventions
Were Given For 1 Hour A Day For 5 Days A Week And For 6 Months With Adequate
Rest Period. Assessment Was Done Using Gmfm Scale And Short Sensory Profile
Before Giving The Intervention And Post Intervention By The Physiotherapist.
Statistical Analysis

The Spss Version 17.0 Trial Was Used For Analysis. The Descriptive Statistics Had
Used To Identify The Features And The Characteristic Of The Children With Cerebral
Palsy. The Inferential Statistics Used To Test The Hypotheses In Order To Make A
Comparison Between Pre And Post Intervention Score (%) Of Gross Motor Function
Measure (Gmfm) And Score Of Short Sensory Profile Among Children With Cerebral
Palsy From The Collected Data
The Paired T-Test Used To Identify The Significance Of Mean Differences Of
Score (%) Of Gross Motor Function Measure And Score Of Short Sensory Profile
Between Pre (Baseline) And Post Intervention Stages Among Children With Cerebral
Palsy Of Group A And Group B.
Independent Sample T-Test Was Used To Identify The Significance Of Mean
Difference Of Score (%) Of Gross Motor Function Measure And Score Of Short
Sensory Profile Between Children With Cerebral Palsy Of Group A And Group B At
Pre-Intervention (Baseline) And Post-Intervention Sampling Stages. Independent
Sample T-Test Is Also Used To Know The Significance Of Mean Differences In Ages
Of Subjects Between Group A And Group B In Order To Confirm The Non-
Biasedness With Respect To Ages Of Subjects In The Present Study. The P Value
Was Less Than 0.05.

Result
4.1 Patient Characteristics: The Mean Age (Mean ± Standard Deviation) Of All
Children With Cerebral Palsy Found To Be 4.93±1.31 Years.
Table 4.1:-
The Frequency And Percentage Distribution Of
Age Of Subjects
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Received 05 March 2021; Accepted 01 April 2021

Group A Group B
Age
Frequency Percentage Frequency Percentage
(Year)
(N1) (%) (N2) (%)

3 Year 3 20.0 2 13.3

4 Year 2 13.3 4 26.7

5 Year 5 33.3 5 33.3
6 Year 2 13.3 2 13.3
7 Year 3 20.0 2 13.3
Total 15 100.0 15 100.0
Table 4.1 Reveals The Distribution Of Ages Of Studied Children With Cerebral Palsy
Of Two Groups. The Ages Of Children Of Group A Found With Little Variations
When Compared To Children Of Group B.
Results Showed That Each Exactly One-Third (33.6%) Of The Children With Cerebral
Palsy Of Group A And Group B Were More Frequently Belonged To The Age Group
Of 5 Years.
Further, This Was Also Noted That The Two (13.3%) Children Of Group A And
Group B Had Belonged To Second Higher Age Group Of 6 Years.
Lastly, The Present Enquiry Showed That 3 (20.0%) Children With Cerebral Palsy Of
Group A As Compared To 2 (13.3%) Of Group B Had Belonged To Higher Age
Group Of 7 Years.
Table 4.2
The Distribution Of Children According To Gender
Group A Group B
Gender Frequency Percentage Frequency Percentage
(N1) (%) (N2) (%)

Male 8 53.3 10 66.7

Female 7 46.7 5 33.3
Total 15 100.0 15 100.0

Table 4.2 Projects The Gender Wise Distribution Of Studied Children With Cerebral
Palsy Of Both The Groups (A And B). The Distribution Of Genders Was Noted With
Little Variations Between The Two Studied Sex-Groups.

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This Was Easily Sees In Table That More Than Half (8, 53.3%) Of The Children Of
Group A Were Most Commonly Male Had Selected From The Population Of Cerebral
Palsy Children As Compared To Two-Third (10, 66.7%) Of The Children Of Group B.
Present Enquiry Showed That (7, 46.7%) Of The Children With Cerebral Palsy Of
Group A While Exactly One-Third (5, 33.3%) Of The Children Of Group B Were
Female Had Also Participated In The Present Study.

4.2 Non-Biasedness Of Samples With Respect To Age Of Children Of Two Groups

Study Investigated Discrimination In Acquirement Of Knowledge Due To Impaction
Of Age Between The Children With Cerebral Palsy Of Two Groups (Group A And
Group B).Finally, The Status Of Biasness Regarding The Distribution Of Ages Of The
Selected Children Of Two Groups With Cerebral Palsy Was Ruled Out.
Table 4.3:
Significance Of Age Differences At The Time Of Admission Between Group “A” And
Group “B”

Scatter For 95% Ci Of The

Cerebral Palsy Age (Year) Mean (Year) T-
Los
Children Statistic
Mean ± Sd Lb Ub

Group A 5.00±1.41 4.22 5.78

0.27
Group B 4.87±1.25 4.18 5.56 P>0.05 

Mean Difference
Between Groups 0.13 Year 


The Mean Difference Is Not Significant (Insignificant) At The 0.05 Level Of Significance.
[Degrees Of Freedom Is 28; Ub-Upper Bound; Lb-Lower Bound; Los-Level Of
Significance]

Table 4.3 Highlights The Distribution Of Ages Of Children With Cerebral Palsy Included
In Group A And Group B For Present Study Were Examined And Compared To Rule Out
The Biasedness Between The Ages Of Children With Cerebral Palsy Of Two Groups.
Results Showed That The Difference Between The Average Ages Of Samples Of Two
Groups Was Not Statistically Significant.
Moreover, The Statistical Agreement Indicated That The Distribution Of Ages Of Children
With Cerebral Palsy Of Group A And Group B Were Noted Approximately Similar For
The Present Study And Was Recorded At The Time Of Admission Of Subjects.

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Received 05 March 2021; Accepted 01 April 2021

Distribution of mean and standard deviation of age of children

with cerebral palsy of two groups
5.0 4.9
5.0
4.5 Group A
Group B
4.0
3.5
Age (year)

3.0
2.5
2.0
1.5 1.4 1.3
1.0
0.5
0.0
Mean Standard Deviation
Figure 4.3-Bar Diagram Depicting The Distribution Of The Mean And Standard Deviation
Of Age Of Children With Cerebral Palsy Of Group A And Group B.

5.3 Comparison Of Scores Of Gross Motor Function Measure And Short Sensory
Profile Between Children Of Two Groups
The Assessments Of Scores (%) Of Gross Motor Function Measure And Score Of
Short Sensory Profile Were Done Before And After Interventions In Both Groups.
Nevertheless, The Children With Cerebral Palsy Of Group A Had Received
Conventional Therapy Alone While Rest Other Children With Cerebral Palsy Of
Group B Received Sensory Integration Therapy With Conventional Therapy.
Significance Of Mean Differences Of Score (%) Of Gross Motor Function Measure
And Score Of Short Sensory Profile Was Carried Out Between Pre And Post
Intervention Among Children With Cerebral Palsy Of Group A And B.

Intra Group Comparison Was Carried Out Within The Groups Between Two Sampling
Stages. Within The Groups, The Assessment Of The Scores (%) Of Gross Motor
Function Measure And Score Of Short Sensory Profile Was Carried Out In Children
Of Group A And B To Detect The Improvement On Gross Motor Function. The
Significance Of Differences In Scores (%) Of Gross Motor Function Measure And
Score Of Short Sensory Profile Among All Studied Children Of Cerebral Palsy Within
The Groups Are Summarized In Tables From 4.4 To 4.5.
Table 4.4:-
Measuerement Of Changes In Scores Of Gross Motor Function Measure From Baseline
(Pre) To Post Intervention In Group A And Group B
Sampling Score Of Gmfm Mean T-
Group Los
Stage (%) Diff Value

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Mean ± Sd

Pre-
71.66±3.89
Intervention 0.57 P<0.00
Group A 4.58
Percent 1#
Post-
72.23±3.98
Intervention

Pre-
73.62±3.08
Intervention
4.35 P<0.00
Group B 8.76
Percent 1#
Post-
77.97±3.56
Intervention

#
The Mean Differences Are Highly Significant At The 0.000 Level Of Significance.
The Degrees Of Freedom Are 14. [Mean Diff-Mean Difference; Los-Level Of
Significance]

Applied Test Of Significance Demonstrated That Both Found To Be Effective

Protocols In Improving Gross Motor Functions Among Children With Cerebral Palsy
Of Group A And B. When Comparison Was Done Of Gross Motor Function Measured
In Children In Group A Had Better Scoring. Gmf Significantly Improved After
Administration Of Conventional Therapy Along At Post Interventional Stage. This
Clearly Reflected Little Effectiveness Of Conventional Therapy Alone In Cases Of
Cerebral Palsy Of Group A.
Further, Investigation Showed Improvement In Scoring Of Gross Motor Function
Measured At Large After Sensory Integration Therapy With Conventional Therapy
Reflected Little Effectiveness Of Sensory Integration Therapy When Used As An
Adjunct To Conventional Therapy In Cases Of Cerebral Palsy Of Group B.
Finally, The Outcomes Of Two Treatment Strategies Utilized In Present Study
Indicated The Effectiveness Of Both, Conventional Therapy Alone And Sensory
Integration Therapy. Investigation Projected That The Children With Cerebral Palsy
Of Group B Had Experienced A Large Improvement At Post Treatment Stage Than
Children With Cerebral Palsy Of Group A. The Differences In Mean Score On Gross
Motor Function Measure Among Children With Cerebral Palsy Of Group B (4.35
Percent) Found To Be Large As Compared To Children Of Group A (0.57 Percent).

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Comparison of score of GMFM (%) of children with cerebral palsy at Pre &
Post interventions
77.97
78.0
77.0 Group A
Group B
Percentage (%)

76.0
75.0
74.0 73.62
73.0 72.23
71.66
72.0
71.0
70.0
69.0
68.0
Pre-intervention Post- intervention
Figure 4.4–Bar Diagram Is Showing The Distribution And Comparison Of Pre-And Post-
Interventions Scoring Of Gross Motor Function Measure Of Children With Cerebral Palsy Of
Group A And Group B.
Table 4.5:-
Measuerement Of Changes In Scores Of Short Sensory Profile From Baseline (Pre) To Post
Intervention In Group A And Group B

Sampling Score Of Ssp Mean T-

Group Los
Stage Mean ± Sd Diff Value

Pre-
125.40±6.80
Intervention 1.20
Group A
Point
4.58 P<0.001 #
Post-
126.60±6.89
Intervention
Pre-
126.87±5.00
Intervention 8.20
Group B
Point
15.82 P<0.001 #
Post-
135.07±5.23
Intervention
#
The Mean Differences Are Highly Significant At The 0.001 Level Of Significance.
The Degrees Of Freedom Are 14. [Mean Diff-Mean Difference; Los-Level Of
Significance
Statuses Of Short Sensory Profile Of Children With Cerebral Palsy Of The Groups, A
And B Can Be Easily Observes In Table 4.5. However, The Children With Cerebral
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Palsy Of Group B Found With More Improved Short Sensory Profile Scores Than
Children With Cerebral Palsy Of Group A. Children In Group A Showed
Improvement After Administration Of Conventional Therapy, Also In Group B
Depicted Statistically Significant Improvement In Short Sensory Profile.
Finally Results Of Present Study Concluded That The Sensory Integration Therapy
Considered Significantly Effective On Improving Gross Motor Function Among
Children With Cerebral Palsy When Used As An Adjunct To Conventional Therapy.

Comparison of score of SSP of children with cerebral palsy at Pre & Post
interventions
136.0 135.07
134.0 Group A
Percentage (%)

132.0
130.0
128.0 126.60 126.87
125.40
126.0
124.0
122.0
120.0
Pre-intervention Post- intervention
Figure 4.5–Bar Diagram Is Showing The Distribution And Comparison Of Pre-And Post-
Interventions Scoring Of Gross Motor Function Measure Of Children With
Cerebral Palsy Of Group A And Group B.

5.4 Comparison Of Scores Of Gross Motor Function Measure And Short Sensory
Profile Between Children Of Group A And Group B
The Assessment And Comparison Of Scores (%) Of Gross Motor Function Measure
And Score Of Short Sensory Profile Was Carried Out At Two Sampling Stages.
Inter Group Comparison Was Carried Out At Baseline And After Administration Of
Conventional Therapy Alone And Sensory Integration Therapy With Conventional
Therapy To Report The Changes Between Children With Cerebral Palsy Of Group A
And Group B In Order To Verify The Usefulness Of Conventional Therapy For
Improving The Gross Motor Function. The Significance Of Differences In Scores (%)
Of Gross Motor Function Measure And Score Of Short Sensory Profile Among
Studied Children Of Cerebral Palsy Between The Two Groups Which Is Summarized
In Tables From 4.6 To 4.7.
Table 4.6:-
Comparison Of Scores (%) Of Gross Motor Function Measure Between Groups A And B
At Pre (Baseline) And Post Intervention Stages

Assessmen Group Score (%) Of Mean T- Los

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t Stage Gmfm Diff Value

Mean ± Sd

Group A 71.66±3.89 1.96

Baseline 1.53 P>0.05 
Group B 73.62±3.08 Percent

Post Group A 72.23±3.98

Interventi 5.74
on 4.16 P<0.001 #
Group B 77.97±3.56 Percent


The Mean Difference Is Not Significant (Insignificant) At The 0.05 Level Of
Significance. # The Mean Differences Are Highly Significant At The 0.001 Level Of
Significance. [Mean Diff-Mean Difference; Los-Level Of Significance]

Table 4.6 Highlights The Performances Between Children With Cerebral Palsy Of
Group A And Group B At Pre (Baseline) And Post-Intervention Stages With Respect
To Gross Motor Function.
Prior To Intervention, The Score (%) Of Gross Motor Function Measure Among
Children In Group B Were Not Significantly Differed And Found To Be
Approximately Similar As Compared In Group A At Baseline Stage. But, The Score
(%) Of Measure Among Children In Group B Were Significantly Higher Post
Intervention Stage As Compared Cerebral Palsy Of Group A.
Investigation Showed That The Children With Cerebral Palsy Of Group B Had
Experienced Significantly Differed And Improved Score (%) Of Gross Motor
Function.
Finally, Results Of Research Indicated That The Sensory Integration Therapy Found
To Be An Effective Conservative Treatment Among Children With Cerebral Palsy
When Used As An Adjunct To Conventional Therapy To Cope With Compromised
Gross Motor Function.
The Below Depicted Figure 4.6 Shows The Comparison In Score (%) Of Gmfm At Pre
And Post Interventions Among Children With Cerebral Palsy Of Group A And Group
B. The Differences In Children Between Groups (Group A And Group B) Found
Approximately Same At Baseline Stage But Noted Statistically Significant At Post
Intervention Stage.

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84
Pre score (%) of GMFM
Post score (%) of GMFM
82

80

78
Score (%) of GMFM

76

74

72

70

68

66
1
1
1
1
1
1
1
1
1
1
1
1
1
1
1
2
2
2
2
2
2
2
2
2
2
2
2
2
2
2
Groups: 1-Children of Group A (Control) and 2-Children of Group B (Experimental)

Figure 4.6–Line Diagram Is Showing The Distribution And Comparison Of Pre-And Post-
Intervention Score (%) Of Gross Motor Function Measure Of Patient With Cerebral
Palsy Of Group A And Group B.

Table 4.6:-
Comparison Of Scores Of Short Sensory Profile Between Group A And Group B At
Pre And Post Interv,Ention Stages
Score Of Ssp T-
Assessme Mean
Group Valu Los
nt Stage Mean ± Sd Diff
e
Group A 125.40±6.80 1.47
Baseline 0.67 P>0.05 
Group B 126.87±5.00 Point

Post Group A 126.60±6.89

Interventi 8.47
on 3.79 P<0.001 #
Group B 135.07±5.23 Point


The Mean Difference Is Not Significant (Insignificant) At The 0.05 Level Of
Significance. # The Mean Differences Are Highly Significant At The 0.001 Level Of
Significance. [Mean Diff-Mean Difference; Los-Level Of Significance]

Table 4.6 Highlights The Significance Of Differences Of Score Of Short Sensory

Profile Between Children With Cerebral Palsy Of Group A And Group B At Pre
(Baseline) And Post-Intervention Stages.
Comparison In Outcomes Of The Treatment Therapies Showed That The Sensory
Integration Therapy Found To Be An Effective Therapeutic Regime In Improving
Gross Motor Function Disorders When Used As An Adjunct To Conventional Therapy
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In Cases Of Cerebral Palsy As Compared To Conventional Therapy Alone.

Nevertheless, Results Indicated That Sensory Integration Therapy Is Better Effective
Therapeutic Regime In Improving Gross Motor Function. Enquiry Showed That The
Differences In Score Of Short Sensory Profile (1.47 Point) Between The Children Of
Group A And Group B Was Very Little At Pre-Intervention Stage And Thereafter The
Difference In Means Could Not Reach At Statistically Significant (P>0.05) Level Of
Significance. This Reflected That At Baseline Stage That The Children Of Both The
Groups Had Approximately Similar Gross Motor Function Disorders With Small
Variations.
The Below Depicted Figure 4.7 Shows The Comparison In Score Of Short Sensory
Profile At Pre And Post Interventions Among Children With Cerebral Palsy Of Group
A And Group B. The Differences In Children Between Groups (Group A And Group
B) Found Approximately Same At Baseline Stage But Noted Statistically Significant
At Post Intervention Stage.

145 Pre score of SSP

Post score of SSP
143
141
139
137
135
133
Score of SSP

131
129
127
125
123
121
119
117
115
1
1
1
1
1
1
1
1
1
1
1
1
1
1
1
2
2
2
2
2
2
2
2
2
2
2
2
2
2
2

Groups: 1-Children of Group A (Control) and 2-Children of Group B (Experimental)

Figure 4.7–Line Diagram Is Showing The Distribution And Comparison Of Pre-And Post-
Intervention Short Sensory Profile Scores Of Patient With Cerebral Palsy Of Group
A And Group B.
Moreover, This Is Inference Statistically That The Therapeutic Regime Such As
Sensory Integration Therapy Is More Effective Intervention Protocol When Used An
Adjunct To Conventional Therapy In Improving The Gross Motor Function Among
Children With Cerebral Palsy Than Conventional Therapy Alone.
Finally, Sensory Integration Therapy Among Children With Cerebral Palsy May Be
More Preferred Treatment Protocol In Improving The Gross Motor Function Among
Cerebral Palsy Children. Overall, The Above All Statements And Inferences From All
The Tables Indicated The Rejection Of Null Hypothesis.

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Annals of R.S.C.B., ISSN: 1583-6258, Vol. 25, Issue 4, 2021, Pages. 17315-17334
Received 05 March 2021; Accepted 01 April 2021

Discussion

This Study Was Designed To Compare Sensory Integration Therapy Verses

Conventional Physical Therapy Among Children With Cerebral Palsy On Gross Motor
Function The Impact Of Sensory Integration Therapy And Conventional Physical
Therapy In Improving Gross Motor Function In Cerebral Palsy Children.
The Worldwide Incidence Of Cerebral Palsy Is Being 2 To 2.5 Per 1000 Live Births
With Motor Disorders Are Often Accompanied By Disturbances Of Sensation,
Perception, Cognition, Communication And Behaviour. The Destruction Of White
Matter Can Have Secondary Effects On The Development Of Cortical And Thalamic
Regions, Which Are Responsible For Sensory Processing. Problem In Sensory
Integration Leads To Sensory Integration Dysfunction (Sid) Which Is The Inefficient
Neurological Processing Of Information Received Through Senses Causing Problems
With Learning, Developmental And Behaviour.
This Reasons Behinds This Study Was To Find Out Effect Of Sensory Integration
Therapy And Conventional Physical Therapy In Children With Cerebral Palsy And To
Compare The Efficacy Of Sensory Integration Therapy Along With Conventional
Therapy Over Conventional Physical Therapy Program.
A Total Of 43 Children Suffering From Cerebral Palsy Who Approached For
Treatment To Career College Opd, Bhopal Were Screened For The Present
Experimental Study And Out Of Them 30 Children Suffering From Cerebral Palsy
Were Fulfilled The Inclusion Criteria That Deemed Fit As A Sample. Thirty Children
With Cerebral Palsy Were Divided Into Two Equal Halves Of Size 15 That
Constituted Two Study Groups And Further Designated As “Group A” (Control
Group) And “Group B” (Experimental Group). Nevertheless, The Children With
Cerebral Palsy Of Group A Had Received Conventional Therapy Alone While Rest
Other Children With Cerebral Palsy Of Group B Received Sensory Integration
Therapy With Conventional Therapy. The 1 Hour Session Was Given 5 Days A Week
For 6 Months. However, Children Of Both The Groups Received Conventional
Therapy In Common.
Conventional Physical Therapy Exercises Included Routine Passive Range Of Motion
Exercises, Stretching Exercises, Strengthening Exercises For Lower Limb, Trunk And
Upper Limb. Transitional Exercises In Supine, Rolling, Sitting, Crawling, Kneeling,
Lying, Standing And Walking. While The Sensory Integration Therapy Involved
Several Visual Perception, Body Awareness, Tactile Perception, Visual Motor
Coordination Training, Vestibular And Proprioceptive Exercises Which Improve
Child’s Ability To Process And Integrate Sensory Information.

Jane Ayers In 1972 States Sensory Integration As “The Neurological Process That
Organizes Sensation From One’s Own Body And From The Environment And Make
It Possible To Use The Body Effectively Within The Environment”.

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Annals of R.S.C.B., ISSN: 1583-6258, Vol. 25, Issue 4, 2021, Pages. 17315-17334
Received 05 March 2021; Accepted 01 April 2021

According To A Study Done By A.R. Shamsoddini And M.T. Hollisaz (2009):

“Effect Of Sensory Integration Therapy On Gross Motor Function In Children
With Cerebral Palsy” Concluded That The This Study Showed The Beneficial
Effects Of The Sit Training Program For Children With Cp; The Sit Intervention
Had A Significantly Positive Effect On Gross Motor Function In The Children
With Diplegic Spastic Cp. Moreover The Results Of The Present Study Showed
That Sensory Integration And Vestibular Stimulation Were Effective In Children
With Cerebral Palsy. . The Results Obtained By Statistical Analysis For Gross
Motor Function In Children Of The Case Group Improved Significantly Better
That In The Control Group, After Intervention In Sitting (P=0.02), Crawling
(P=0.001) And Standing (P=0.03) Positions; However No Significant Difference
Was Seen In Rolling (P=0.65) And Walking (P=0.69) Ability Assessment.

Sheffali Gulati, All India Institute Of Medical Sciences, New Delhi November 22,
2019: In This Study They Compared Efficacy Of Sensory Integration Therapy As An
Adjunct To Standard Care With Standard Care Alone In Improving Gross Motor Skills
In Cerebral Palsy Children With Sensory Processing Abnormalities. Existing
Literature Points Towards Presence Of Sensory Processing Abnormalities In Children
With Cerebral Palsy. However, There Is Lack Of Robust Evidence For Usefulness Of
Sensory Integration Therapy In Cerebral Palsy Children .Standard Therapy Outcome
In Improving Functional Motor Skills, Adaptive Responses Are Variable In Children
With Cerebral Palsy. Sensory Integration Therapy In Addition To Standard Therapy
May Further Improve Adaptive And Functional Motor Skills In Children With
Cerebral Palsy

With The Evidence Available, The Current Study And The Statistical Test Shows That
Children Intervened With Sensory Integration Therapy With Conventional Therapy
Had Significantly Better And Improved Gross Motor Function Disorders Than
Children Intervened With Conventional Therapy Alone.

Finally, Results Of Research Indicated That The Sensory Integration Therapy Found
To Be An Effective Treatment Strategy Among Children With Cerebral Palsy When
Used As An Adjunct To Conventional Therapy To Improve Gross Motor Function.

Conclusion
During The Course Of This Study, It Has Been Concluded That Therapeutic Regime
Such As Sensory Integration Therapy Is More Effective Intervention Protocol When
Used An Adjunct To Conventional Therapy In Improving The Gross Motor Function
Among Children With Cerebral Palsy Than Conventional Therapy Alone. There Is
Significant Improvement In Scores Of Gmfm And Short Sensory Profile In Both The
Groups With The Treatment.
Therefore, The Alternative Hypothesis Is Accepted Which Stated As “Conventional
Therapy With Sensory Integration Therapy Is More Effective Protocol Than
Conventional Therapy Alone In Cerebral Palsy” That Impacted The Achievement
Of The Entire Selected Objectives Followed With Fulfillment Of The Aim Of The
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Annals of R.S.C.B., ISSN: 1583-6258, Vol. 25, Issue 4, 2021, Pages. 17315-17334
Received 05 March 2021; Accepted 01 April 2021

Proposed Research Entitled “Sensory Integration Therapy Verses Conventional

Physical Therapy Among Children With Cerebral Palsy On Gross Motor
Function – A Comparative Randomized Controlled Trial”.

Limitations
Although The Findings Were Encouraging The Sample Size Was Small.
Children Suffering From Spastic, Hemiplegic And Monoplegic Were Considered.
Long Term Effects Were Not Analyzed.
Study Was Not Done On Other Types Of Cerebral Palsy.

Future Research
Future Studies Should Be Done On Larger Sample Size In Both The Groups.
The Duration Of The Study Should Be Elongated For The Better Effectiveness For
The Exercise Interventions.
Further Studies Should Be Done On The Other Cerebral Palsy Children.
Further Studies Can Be Done To Determine The Clinical Applicability Of These
Exercise Regimes For Different Age Group With Different Types Of Cerebral Palsy.

Conflict Of Interest
There Is No Conflict Of Interest
There Is No Fund By Any Agencies For The Study.

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