Cerebral Disorders of Movement and Habilitation by Vojta Method

Cerebral movement disorders resulting from damage to the immature brain is manifested by mild or severe impairment of motor development of children. Terminology "cerebral movement disorders" is taken from the German school of development by Vaclav Vojta. Goal: The aim of this paper is to highlight the importance of early reha¬bilitation by Vojta method in children with cerebral movement disorders. Material and methods: The study was conducted on a sample of 100 children with cerebral move¬ment disorder in age from 2 to 24 months who are habilitated at the Department of Developmental Habilitation and Rehabili¬tation of Children Pediatric Clinic, Clinical Center of University in Sarajevo in the period of three years. A prerequisite for the selection of children was the fact that there is a cerebral movement disorder. Conducted clinical study is retrospective. Each child was examined by a physiatrist and diagnosed as cerebral movement disorders, and then included in the rehabilitation program by Vojta method. Treatment started at the age of 2-9 months, regular check-ups were car¬ried out in two months intervals. Results: Out of 100 children who were identified with cerebral movement disorders, 55 are male and 45 female children. In 70% of the test group treatment has begun at an early age, which is essential for the results of habilitation treatment. In 25% of children the treatment started later, and in 5% very late. Differences in the number of infants, at the start of treatment by sex, were not statistically significant as confirmed by Chi square test. To achieve rotation from back to belly, the average duration of therapy was 3 months and at the age of 6 months with a statistical significance of p <0.001. Stati¬cally is proven that the average age when children learn the self seating, and in whom therapy is initiated early, was 10 months, while the children in whom the treatment was started late self seating was achieved within 12 months. In the group with early onset of therapy creep has been achieved with an average age of 11, whereas in the group with the late beginning of therapy creep is achieved with 14 months. To walk independently in the group with early onset was achieved with 14 months in the group with late starting it with either 19 months. The difference in the average number of months between the treatment of infants with early onset of therapy (3-5 months) and infants with late beginning of therapy (6-9 months) is statistically highly significant. A value of t test is: t = 3.237 at significance level p <0.001. Conclusion: An early habili¬tation of children with cerebral movement disorders leads to faster motor training in relation to the late start rehabilitation treatment.