The Effect of Adding Homeopathic Treatment to Rehabilitation on Abnormal Reflexes of Children with Spastic Cerebral Palsy

Abstract

Objectives: Cerebral palsy (CP) is a static encephalopathy with abnormal reflexes that cause motor developmental delay. In addition to conventional methods, complementary medicine like homeopathy has been used in treatment of neuro-developmental disorders. This study has been done to determine the effect of adding homeopathic treatment to rehabilitation on abnormal reflexes of children with spastic cerebral palsy. Methods: In this study by using minimization technique subjects were divided to case and control groups. The routine rehabilitation techniques were done in 4 months in both groups. The control group received placebo and the case group received homeopathy drugs. Primitive, spinal, brain stem, midbrain, cortical reflexes and automatic movement reaction in the beginning and the end of four months were assessed and compared in two groups. Data collected by assessment forms, direct observations and examinations. Results: The average age in case and control groups was 28, 28.4 months respectively. Primitive reflexes: Palmar Grasp reflex in 14.3% of cases has improved but in control group has no differences (PV=0.681). Plantar Grasp and walking reflex in two groups before and after intervention have no differences (PV=1). Moro reflex in 28.6% of cases and 11.1% of controls improved (PV=0.408). Discussion: Regarding to proved effects of homeopathy mentioned in different articles on physical status of children with CP as well as executive limitations, it is not possible to reject the effects of homeopathy on reflexes of children with CP.As homeopathy is young in Iran, it is recommended to make researches about effects of homeopathy on neurodevelopmental disorders