ObjectiveTo explore the effect of Bobath ball combined with virtual reality(VR) somatosensory game on the rehabilitation of children with cerebral palsy(CP) and its effects on gross movement, balance function and three-dimensional gait space-time indexes.

MethodsA total of 80 children with CP were randomly divided into control group and observation group according to the order of admission, with 40 cases in each group.The control group was given routine rehabilitation training, and the observation group was given Bobath ball+VR somatosensory game on the basis of the control group for 3 months.The gross movement, balance function(track length, track length per unit area, peripheral area), three-dimensional gait spatio-temporal indexes(stride, step length, dual support phase), surface electromyographic parameters of gastrocnemius muscle under passive activity and maximum isometric contraction of flexion and extensionintegral electromyogram(iEMG), median frequency(MF), and ability of daily living(ADL) were compared before intervention and 1 and 3 months after intervention.The satisfaction of family members of the two groups were compared.

ResultsAfter 3 months of intervention, the gross movement scores of D and E areas in the observation group were significantly higher than those in the control group(P < 0.01);the scores of ADL in the observation group were significantly higher than those in the control group(P < 0.01).After 1 and 3 months of intervention, the track of unit area in the observation group were significantly higher than those in the control group(P < 0.01);the track length and peripheral area in the observation group were significantly less than those in the control group(P < 0.01);the stride and step length in the observation group were greater than those in the control group(P < 0.05 to P < 0.01), and the double support phase were significantly less than those in the control group(P < 0.01);the iEMG in the passive activity state was significantly lower than that in the control group(P < 0.01), and the iEMG and MF in the maximum isometric contraction state of flexion and extension were significantly greater than those in the control group(P < 0.01).The total satisfaction of family members of children in the observation group was higher than that in the control group(P < 0.05).

ConclusionsBobath ball combined with VR somatosensory game can improve the gross movement and balance function of children with CP, reduce the muscle tension in passive state, increase the step length, reduce the time of bipedal support phase, and play a positive role in improving the ADL and family members′ satisfaction of children with CP.