[Efficacy of reflexology in the combination with neuroprotective treatment in hemiparetic form of children cerebral palsy]
Moderate EvidenceIn Plain Language: reflexology, explained
Sixty patients with the diagnosis of cerebral palsy with hemiparesis at the age from 2 to 7 years were treated. All 60 patients had conventional treatment including massage and exercise therapy. Patients were divided into 2 randomized groups. The patients of the first group were given 3 sets of microcurrent reflexology sessions and 2 courses of treatment with cortexin. Patients of the second group were given reflexology treatments only. The microcurrent reflexology treatment included 15 sessions using the apparatus MAKS. Cortexin was introduced intramuscularly in dosage 10 mg. The bottle content was diluted in 2 ml of 0.5% novocaine. The treatment included 10 injections. This treatment showed the beneficial effects: 29 patients of the first group (97%) and 27 patients of the second group (90%) developed some ambulation skills. The progress in complicated manipulative activity of paralyzed upper extremities under microcurrent reflexology with cortexin was 2.2 times more visible in patients of the first group compared to the second one (11 patients (37%) versus 5 patients (17%), respectively). Positive changes in the encephalon functional status according to electroencephalography results were found in 21 patients (71%) of the first group and in 16 patients (53%) of the second group.
Key Findings: what this randomised trial found
- ✓Microcurrent reflexology combined with cortexin treatment resulted in 97% of patients (29/60) developing ambulatory skills compared to 90% (27/60) in the reflexology-only group.
- ✓Combined microcurrent reflexology and cortexin therapy showed 2.2 times greater improvement in manipulative function of paralyzed upper extremities compared to reflexology treatment alone.
- ✓Both treatment groups received conventional therapy including massage and exercise, with the primary difference being the addition of 15 microcurrent reflexology sessions and cortexin injections in the first group.
What This Means for You
While this small randomized study shows reflexology combined with medical treatment may help children with cerebral palsy improve movement, the evidence is moderate and results were modest—discuss with your child's medical team whether this could complement conventional therapy.
What This Means for Practitioners
This study suggests microcurrent reflexology may enhance outcomes for pediatric cerebral palsy when integrated with conventional treatment and neuroprotective medications, though larger studies are needed to confirm optimal protocols.
Study Design: how this randomised trial was run
Common questions about this study
What does this study mean in practice?
While this small randomized study shows reflexology combined with medical treatment may help children with cerebral palsy improve movement, the evidence is moderate and results were modest—discuss with your child's medical team whether this could complement conventional therapy.
What did this study find?
Microcurrent reflexology combined with cortexin treatment resulted in 97% of patients (29/60) developing ambulatory skills compared to 90% (27/60) in the reflexology-only group. Combined microcurrent reflexology and cortexin therapy showed 2.2 times greater improvement in manipulative function of paralyzed upper extremities compared to reflexology treatment alone. Both treatment groups received conventional therapy including massage and exercise, with the primary difference being the addition of 15 microcurrent reflexology sessions and cortexin injections in the first group.
How strong is this evidence?
This is a randomised trial and we rate its evidence moderate. It covers 60 participants. It was published in Zhurnal nevrologii i psikhiatrii imeni S.S. Korsakova. Reflexology is a complementary therapy, not a replacement for medical treatment.
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