Effect of Physiotherapy with Visual Tools (Cards) on Gross Motor Skills for Children Aged 4 Years

Abstract

Background. Motor development delay is a term used to describe children who exhibit insuffcient motor coordination skills in comparison with that expected for their chronological age and intellect. It is important to start physiotherapy, which should be interesting, attractive and motivating as early as possible for children with developmental motor disorders. We expect physiotherapy sessions with visual supports (the cards) to be more effective compared to usual physiotherapy (without visual supports) while dealing with children’s developmental motor disorders. The aim was to evaluate effect of physiotherapy with visual support (the cards) and usual physiotherapy (without visual support) on gross motor skills in children four years of age. Methods. The study was conducted in a sanatorium. Thirty children with motor development delay (age – 4 years) were included in the study. Subjects were randomly divided into two groups: the study group (n = 15) and the control group (n = 15). The study group subjects received physiotherapy with visual support – cards and controls received usual physiotherapy sessions. Motor age, motor coeffcient, balance and muscle tone were assessed before and after intervention. Results. Before physiotherapy motor age in controls was 33.7 ± 1.6 months, in the study group – 33.4 ± 1.6 months. After physiotherapy it increased significantly respectively to 38.33 ± 1.64 and 37.0 ± 2.0 months. Motor coeffcient before physiotherapy in study group was 69.6 ± 3.4, in the control group – 70.3 ± 3.4, after physiotherapy it improved respectively to 75.2 ± 3.2 and 72.5 ± 3.9 (p < 0.05). Balance before physiotherapy in the study group was 35.4 ± 2.2 points, in the control group – 35.1 ± 3.4 points, followed by physiotherapy it signifcantly improved in both groups respectively to 42.2 ± 3.2 and 38.9 ± 3.6 points. Muscle tone before physiotherapy in the study group was 2.3 ± 0.7 points in the control – 2.2 ± 0.7 points, followed by physiotherapy muscle tone did not change signifcantly, and it was respectively 2.1 ± 0.4 and 2.1 ± 0.4 points. Conclusions. Physiotherapy program with visual support (cards) was effective
in improving gross motor skills as well as usual physiotherapy (without cards). There were no signifcant differences between two physiotherapy programs in improving gross motor skills in children 4 years of age.

Keywords: children, gross motor skills, physiotherapy, method using cards, motor development delay.