Comparison of the efficacy of electrotherapy and neuromuscular retraining techniques in restoring function of children with obstetric palsy

Abstract

Background: Obstetric palsy (OP) is defined as the paralysis or paresis of all or part of the upper limb that occurs in the newborn during childbirth. It can be treated surgically and conservatively. Physiotherapy and in particular electrotherapy and neuromuscular retraining techniques help to restore the function of the upper limb. The purpose of this review is to describe and compare recent research data on the efficacy of electrotherapy and neuromuscular retraining techniques in the rehabilitation of infants with OP. The Google Scholar and PubMed databases were searched in English and Greek with the following keywords: obstetric palsy, physiotherapy, electrotherapy, rehabilitation. The review included clinical trials, case studies and systematic reviews. The review included 10 articles: three clinical trials, two case studies, two research articles and three systematic reviews. Conclusions: Electrotherapy and neuromuscular retraining techniques are equally useful methods for treating OP. Electrotherapy is applied during the acute stage, while the techniques begin in the 2nd week of life with the most common choices being the Vojta and Bobath methods and in older age the Proprioceptive Neuromuscular Facilitation and Constraint-Induced Movement Therapy.