SIX-MONTH FOLLOW-UP OF THE EFFECT OF A MAGNETIC FIELD ON CEREBRAL MOTOR DISORDERS IN EARLY CHILDHOOD

Introduction:- There is a consensus about the short-term efficacy, but not about the long-term effect of the low-frequency impulse magnetic field in early childhood cerebral motor disorders. There is no consensus about the statistical significance of the two-week and six-month dynamics of the kinesiology tests, cranial ultrasound, pathological and primitive reflexes.

Objective:- To compare the short-term and long-term effect of the low-frequency impulse magnetic field versus placebo control and compare the statistical significance regarding the two-week and six-month dynamics of the kinesiology tests, cranial ultrasound, pathological and primitive reflexes.

Material and Methods:- 29 children (age 8.10 ± 5.98 months) with cerebral motor disorders were followed for 6 months. They were divided into two groups - physiotherapeutic and control. The physiotherapy group (n = 14) received a once-daily low-frequency impulse magnetic field for two weeks at the start of the follow-up. The control group (n = 15) received a once-daily placebo magnetic therapy for two weeks at the start of the follow-up. Kinesiology tests, cranial ultrasound, pathological and primitive reflexes were recorded at the beginning of the follow-up, after two weeks, and after six months.

Results:- At the beginning of the follow-up, there was no difference between the two groups regarding all parameters (P>0.05). Both groups showed better results after two weeks versus the start of the follow-up (P<0.05) and after six months versus after two weeks (P<0.05). The physiotherapy group showed better results versus the control group after the second week (P<0.05) and after the sixth month (P<0.05). The two-week and six-month dynamics of the kinesiology tests showed the highest significance (P<0.001), followed by primitive reflexes (P<0.04), followed by pathological reflexes (P<0.05), and finally - the cranial ultrasound (P>0.05), at comparable baseline parameters (P<0.05).

Conclusion:- The low-frequency impulse magnetic field showed a significant short-term and long-term therapeutic effect that exceeded the corresponding placebo effects. The statistical significance at the second week and the sixth month of kinesiology tests was the highest, followed by primitive reflexes, and pathological reflexes. The cranial ultrasound did not show significant two-week and six-month dynamics. Despite the relatively stationary morphological changes, verified by cranial ultrasound, the developing nervous system in children aged 8.10 ± 5.98 months showed significant positive dynamics and plasticity for two weeks and six months, verified by kinesiology tests, primitive and pathological reflexes.