Effect of modified scooter board therapy on trunk control and hip muscle activation in children with cerebral palsy – A pilot randomised control study

Cerebral palsy (CP), with an incidence rate of 2.95, is one of the leading causes of disability in children. The excessive tone in several muscle groups causes significant movement deficits and secondary impairments, such as hip displacement, affecting quality of life. Although age-related functional positioning treatment is effective, it does not prevent secondary deficits. Literature recommends the use of task-based training with an emphasis on the functional elongation of these spastic muscle groups. Thus, a therapy that is engaging, parent-inclusive, and addresses hip-related deficits is needed. Hence, this study aimed to develop and evaluate a therapy targeting adductor overactivity and trunk control. Modified Scooter Board Therapy (MSBT) is an intervention that uses a specially designed scooter board device, allowing children to propel themselves forward while positioned prone with hip abduction and neutral hip rotation. A convenient sample of eight children with CP were assigned to either the MSBT or conventional exercise group. The intervention lasted eight weeks, and electromyographic (EMG) recordings at rest and during volitional activity were obtained at baseline and after eight weeks. Non-parametric statistical analysis, with a significance level of p < 0.05, showed no statistically significant differences between the groups at the end of the eight weeks. However, volitional hip adductor activity significantly changed in the MSBT group, indicated by a reduction in mean motor unit potential at rest. Additionally, parents preferred MSBT for its ease of use. Thus, MSBT appears to be a clinically promising intervention to reduce adductor hypertonicity and improve active control, highlighting the importance of prone positioning with active elongation for better motor function.