THE EFFECTIVENESS OF BOBATH TECHNIQUE IN TREATING CHILDREN WITH CEREBRAL PALSY: A SYSTEMATIC REVIEW

Abstract

ABSTRACT:

Aim: To assess how Bobath therapy affects motor function and functional independence. Method: This systematic review was conducted in accordance with PRISMA guidelines. All randomized trials that recruited cerebral palsy children and applied Bobath approach as intervention were collected through a comprehensive online database search. For quality assessment, the revised Cochrane risk-of-bias tool for randomized trial (RoB 2) was used. Results: Six eligible articles including five RCTs and one quasi-experimental study were retrieved from PEDro, MEDLINE, COCHRANE, EBSCO and PubMed since 2010, and all studies had low risk of bias. Bobath therapy had shown positive effects on gross motor function, balance, upper extremity function and functional independence but no significant effects on gait parameters and disability involvement. Conclusion: Bobath technique would not be effective on its own, instead might be effective as adjunct to other conventional physiotherapy treatments.

Keywords:

Neurodevelopmental therapy, Bobath, cerebral palsy, Randomized control trials