Effect of Use of Laser Acupuncture for Treatment of Drooling and Hypertonia in Children with Cerebral Palsy

Abstract

This study is conducted to investigate the effect of laser acupuncture on spasticity and drooling in children with spastic cerebral palsy. Forty spastic children participated in this study. They were assigned randomly into two groups of equal number, 20 patients each. The ages (mean ± standard deviation) of laser group and control group were (3.1±1.1) and (3.2±1.0) respectively. Comparing means values of the two groups revealed non-significant differences (P value 0.662). The distribution of males and females in laser group were 70% and 30%. While in control group they were 85% and 15% respectively. There was no significant difference between the studied groups regarding demographic characteristics and growth milestones. Patients in the control group were treated by a selected physical therapy program for 3 sessions per week one hour each. While the patients in the study group were treated by the same physical therapy program given to the control group in addition to laser acupuncture (low-level laser 650 nm with 50 mW power was applied at each acupoint for 30 s giving an energy density of 1.8 J/cm2) at a frequency of 2 sessions per week for successive 6 weeks. Preassessment and post-assessment of muscle tone, the