Cerebral palsy
This name refers to a wide range of clinical manifestations of brain damage in children – from minor movement disorders without mental impairment to severe movement disorders associated with severe mental impairment. This treatment is long-term, lasting for several months. Treatment with hyperbaric oxygen therapy is an effective aid in the treatment of cerebral palsy.
Cerebral palsy is a disorder of central movement control and a disease of the nervous system. The disease affects the motor development of the child and can be congenital or acquired. There is a disturbance at the level of mobility, coordination and total control of movement. The causes of cerebral palsy can be very diverse. The motor development of the child is delayed or insufficient. Usually, the disease manifests itself already during the first 6 months of a child’s life.
Currently, the incidence of cerebral palsy is 3 cases per 1000 births. Most often, however, premature babies are affected by this diagnosis.
CEREBRAL PALSY AND HYPERBARIC OXYGEN THERAPY
In the U.S., cerebral palsy affects 1 in 303 children (8,000 new cases each year), making it the most devastating motor disease in children. This tragic illness affects the ability to move, to hold the body and other motor skills and can lead to the need to provide lifelong care to the patient. Studies have shown that hyperbaric oxygen therapy (HBO) helps alleviate the effects of cerebral palsy. Many forms of this disease develop as a result of insufficient oxygen supply to the brain during childbirth. The affected brain tissue, also called penumbra (ischemic partial shadow), can be saved or relieved by supplying elevated oxygen levels. Multiple studies have shown that HBO is a promising treatment, and after its application to patients, scientists have noticed improvements.
THE MAIN BENEFICIAL EFFECTS OF HBO FOR PATIENTS WITH CEREBRAL PALSY
HBO IMPROVES NEUROLOGICAL TISSUE REPAIR AND REGENERATION
- Suppresses the effect of hypoxia on the brain of a newborn
- Promotes neurone formation
- Relieves mitochondrial disorders
- Increases mobilization and multiplication of stem cells
- Improves healing of penumbra tissue
- Increases neuroplasticity
- HBO IMPROVES OVERALL BRAIN FUNCTION
- Supports cognitive functions
- Improves gross/fine motor skills
- Improves speech and language
- Suppresses spasticity
- Reduces the frequency of seizures
- Stimulates better eye contact
- Improves gait and balance
STUDY: THE CONTRIBUTION OF HBO TO IMPROVING MOTOR FUNCTION
In 2014, the results of a controlled longitudinal study were published looking at the effectiveness of intensive rehabilitation in combination with HBO and the subsequent impact on gross and fine motor skills in 150 paediatric patients with cerebral palsy. In this 8-month study, all children received standard rehabilitation, while three groups received HBO at the same time. The control group was the paediatric patients who were not given hyperbaric therapy and those patients underwent only standard rehabilitation. All HBO groups underwent 40 therapy sessions of 1 hour, six times a week. The first HBO group received 1.3 absolute atmosphere (ATA) therapy with compressed air. The second HBO group received 1.5 ATA therapy with 100% oxygen administered through an oxygen helmet, while the third HBO group received 1.75 ATA therapy with 100% oxygen also administered through an oxygen helmet. After eight months of follow-up measurement, all four patient groups achieved improved parameters. However, in the HBO administration groups, a variation in fine and gross motor skills was noted, which was on average three times higher compared to the control group. The study found no significant statistical difference in functional improvement between the groups given HBO.
ACCORDING TO STUDIES CONDUCTED AT THE DR. NEUBAUER HYPERBARIC NEUROLOGIC CENTER IN FLORIDA, LIGHTER FORMS OF CEREBRAL PALSY CAN BE POSITIVELY INFLUENCED BY HYPERBARIC OXYGEN THERAPY.
