Trial reportBMC pediatrics2026
Comparative effects of high- vs. low-intensity Bobath therapy on spasticity in young children with spastic cerebral palsy.
Trial report in BMC pediatrics, 2026. The graph could read no effect estimate from its abstract, so it casts no vote on the map. Not yet cited in PubMed.
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The abstract states no effect estimate the extractor could read, or names no intervention and outcome on the map, so this paper lights no cell and moves no belief. It is still indexed, cited and linked below.
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Authors and funding
3 authors.
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No grant is acknowledged in the PubMed record.
Abstract
backgroundSpastic cerebral palsy, the most common cerebral palsy subtype, is characterised by increased muscle tone that restricts movement and daily functioning. The Bobath approach is widely applied in paediatric neurorehabilitation; however, the effects of therapy intensity and sequencing remain insufficiently understood.
objectiveTo compare the effects of high versus low-intensity Bobath therapy on spasticity in young children with spastic cerebral palsy.
methodsA double-blinded, randomised, crossover trial was conducted at Livingstone University Teaching Hospital, Zambia, involving 30 children aged 3 months to 4 years. Participants were randomly allocated to one of two sequences: Standard Bobath followed by Modified Bobath (AB) or Modified Bobath followed by Standard Bobath (BA). Each phase lasted 12 weeks. The Modified protocol comprised three 60-minute sessions weekly; the Standard protocol comprised two 40-minute sessions weekly. Spasticity was measured at baseline and after each phase using the Modified Ashworth Scale. Data were analysed using paired tests and Wilcoxon rank-sum tests in SPSS v25 (p < 0.05).
resultsBoth sequences produced significant improvements in spasticity. The BA sequence yielded greater gains, including a 28–35% reduction in Modified Ashworth Scale scores (p = 0.008), compared with the AB sequence, which showed a 12–18% reduction (p = 0.032). No carryover effect was observed (p = 0.67). Endline comparisons showed significantly lower right-sided upper limb spasticity in the BA group, particularly in shoulder flexion (p = 0.0213), shoulder extension (p = 0.0187), elbow flexion (p = 0.0213), elbow extension (p = 0.0213), wrist flexion (p = 0.0213), and wrist extension (p = 0.0213). Lower limb improvements included significant reductions in hip extension, knee extension, ankle flexion, and ankle extension (all p = 0.0479).
conclusionBobath therapy effectively improves motor outcomes in children with spastic cerebral palsy. Initiating treatment with a higher-intensity Modified Bobath protocol leads to superior reductions in spasticity, underscoring the importance of therapy intensity and sequencing in paediatric neurorehabilitation.
trial registrationPan African Clinical Trial Registry (PACTR) PACTR202512685522786. Registered in December 2024.
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