EFFECT OF ART THERAPY AND TASK-ORIENTED TRAINING IN IMPROVING QUALITY OF LIFE AND BALANCE IN CHILDREN WITH CEREBRAL PALSY: A PILOT STUDY.

Abstract

Background:
Cerebral palsy (CP) is a non-progressive neurological condition that affects movement, posture, balance and overall
quality of life in children. While traditional physiotherapy is commonly used as a primary treatment, alternative
methods such as art therapy and task-oriented training have started to receive recognition for their potential to
improve both motor skills and emotional health. However, the effects of these combined therapies have not been
thoroughly investigated.
Objectives:
“The major objective of this study was to assess the effect of the combined approach of Art Therapy and Task-
Oriented Training on balance quality of life improvement for children with cerebral palsy” and to compare the
findings with improvements through conventional physiotherapy.
Methods:
A randomized controlled pilot study involved 22 children aged 6 to 13 years who were diagnosed with CP. “The
participants were evenly divided into two groups: Group A was given Art Therapy along with Task-Oriented
Training, while Group B received Conventional Physiotherapy. The interventions were conducted over a period of
six weeks, with sessions held three times a week”. The Pediatric Balance Scale (PBS) and the Pediatric Quality of
Life Inventory (PedsQL) were utilized to evaluate balance and quality of life, respectively, both before and after the
intervention. Ethical approval was obtained, and participants provided informed consent.
Results:
Notable improvements in balance were observed within both groups, with the experimental group experiencing an
increase in mean PBS scores from 32.14 ± 10.51 to 33.45 ± 10.23 (t = -4.06, p = 0.0006). However, when comparing
the groups, no statistically significant difference was found “(t = 0.61, p = 0.5459), suggesting that both types of
therapy were similarly effective in enhancing balance. In terms of quality of life, the overall PedsQL score indicated
a marginal improvement in the experimental group (t = -1.98, p = 0.0607), with emotional functioning approaching
significance (t = 1.89, p = 0.0734). No significant changes were observed in physical (p = 0.0856), social (p =
0.8623), or school functioning (p = 0.2012)”. Correlation analysis showed moderate positive associations between
balance improvements and physical (r = 0.452), school (r = 0.463), and social functioning (r = 0.381), while
emotional functioning displayed minimal to no correlation with balance (r = -0.058)
Conclusion:
The combination of art therapy and task-oriented training led to significant improvements in balance for children
with cerebral palsy, but it did not demonstrate superiority over conventional physiotherapy. Although there was a
potential trend toward improvement in emotional well-being, the changes in overall quality of life were not
statistically significant. These results indicate the necessity for longer-term treatment options and integrated
psychosocial strategies to more effectively meet the emotional and functional requirements of children with CP.