From: Dr. Philip James, Wolfson Hyperbaric Medicine Unit, University of Dundee, U. K.

There are some who may not have had access to the paper in the journal Undersea and Hyperbaric Medicine fall edition 1999 vol26,235-242, which gives the details of the Canadian study. So here is a brief review:

Subject: Effects of hyperbaric oxygen therapy on children with spastic diplegic cerebral palsy a pilot project D. MONTGOMERY, J. GOLDBERG, M. AMAR, V. LACROIX, J. LECOMTE, J. LAMBERT, M. VANASSE and P. MAROIS. McGill University, Hopital Sainte-Justine, Hopital Marie Enfant Institut Maritime de Rimouski, Universite de Montreal

Methods

Twenty five children (X = 5.6+1-1.6 yr) with spastic diplegic cerebral palsy were enrolled in a pilot project to study the effect of hyperbaric oxygen therapy. The protocol for HBO therapy was 20 treatments of 95% oxygen at 1.75 atm abs for 60 mm. The children had to have had stable disability, that is no measurable changes in gross motor performance, for at least one year to be selected.

Pre and post evaluations were undertaken by physical therapists using test of gross motor function, video analysis and a parental questionaire was also completed. No child received physical or occupational therapy during the course of the study. One child was not available for the follow-up examination

Results

In the professional evaluation:

15 out of the 24 children showed overall improvement,

5 remained the same and

4 were worse.

In the parental evaluation worsening was reported in only one child.

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