Cerebral Palsy Treatment

The Advantages Of Cerebral Palsy Treatment Principles With NDT Approach

The cerebral palsy treatment principles and processes that will be presented here are based on the neurodevelopmental treatment ( NDT ). The basis of NDT approach for cerebral palsy treatment is to establish the balance necessary to be upright in space and  the premise that the presence of normal postural reflex mechanisms is fundamental to the performance of motor skill. This balance is built on the development of normal righting, equilibrium, and protective reaction. It is necessary to look at the components of the righting, equilibrium, and balance responses needed for functional movement.

The cerebral palsy treatment with NDT is was developed during the early 1940s by physical therapist, Berta Bobath, and her husband Karl Bobath. Bobath provided a new frame of reference that viewed  children with cerebral palsy as having difficulties with postural control and movement as they attempted to gravity. The problems in children with cerebral palsy, described as release of abnormal tone and reflexes, resulted in abnormal patterns of muscle coordination. The Bobath further proposed that the release of abnormal tone and tonic reflexes interfered with the development of righting and equilibrium reactions, which are necessary in the acquisition of normal postural control.

The techniques cerebral palsy treatment with NDT are the inhibition technique ( to inhibit abnormal postural reflex activity, reduce hypertonus in spastic and athetoid child with cerebral palsy), the facilitation technique ( facilitation of potential normal postural and movement patterns are the basis of a more normal muscle tone ),  and stimulation technique.

Dynamic control can be obtained through the facilitation of necessary movement components, such as active trunk flexion, extension, lateral flexion, and rotation. Improving proximal postural control in the child’s development may help reduce the risks of possible postural deformities. Utilizing movement activities that incorporate weight bearing and weight shifting assists in improving postural stability, strength, and control for gross and fine motor development.