The use of transcranial stimulation as a treatment in the motor rehabilitation of a child with cerebral palsy - a case study project

Abstract

Cerebral Palsy (CP) also known as chronic non-progressive encephalopathy of childhood is a consequence of non-progressive lesions that occurred in the immature brain in the pre, peri or postnatal period, affecting the central nervous system in a phase of structural maturation and functional. The present work is a case study with characteristics of Experimental, Interventional Research, where a protocol of two weekly sessions was carried out, with a service time of 40 minutes, in a total of 20 (twenty) sessions. The therapeutic protocol consisted of transcranial stimulation and aimed to investigate the effects of tDCS, associated with kinesiotherapy and activation of mirror neurons, in the rehabilitation of a 54-month-old male child with cerebral palsy, moderate degree of muscular hypotonia in the lower limbs, voluntary movements with weak muscular strength; dorsolumbar scoliosis and zero score on the Functional Mobility and Modified Asworth Scale. The Gross Motor Function Classification System (GMFCS) has a level V classification, limiting the ability to maintain antigravity postures of the head and trunk and to control arm and leg movements. Modified Barthel Index with score 11- severe dependency rating. The Denver II scale with significant impairments in the following domains: personal-social, adaptive fine motor, language and gross motor.