Evidenced Based Research Activity - Case Study Example

 Title of Article/Citation Silva, L., Schalock, M., Garberg, J., & Smith, C. L. (2012). Qigong massage for motor skills in young children with cerebral palsy and down syndrome. Am J Occup Ther , 66 (3), 348-355. Research Question Effect of dual parent plus trainer delivered Qigong massage methodology, on motor skills and sensory responses in children under age 4 with developed delay and motor tone abnormalities (Silva, Schalock, Garberg, & Smith, 2012). What Did Researchers Do (Methods)? The researchers have been studying Qigong massage methodology, referred to as Qigong sensory training, in young children with autism for the past ten years. They used two randomized controlled trials, with one group having children with low tone and down syndrome, while the other group had children with high tone and cerebral palsy. The two groups were given a qigong massage intervention delivered by trained personnel and their parents (Silva, Schalock, Garberg, & Smith, 2012). The researchers conducted split evaluation of both the parent and the trained assessor produced pre-assessment data for those who completed the study using both ANCOVA and MANCOVA. The Pillai trace principle was applied as a test statistic and their methodology was supported by Chinese medical theory and suppositions. The methodology was adapted for children having orthopedic impairment as well as motor delays. Thus a diminutive RCT was used to assess the effect of the above methodology when it comes to motor delays (Silva, Schalock, Garberg, & Smith, 2012). What Did They Find (Findings, Results)? Sensory domain data showed no overall statistical differences between the two groups, and children in both the treatment and control group, had no dissimilar variation in sensory impairment during the pre-assessment. Secondly, the paired t-test revealed positive, though statistically insignificant enhancements for those children under the treatment group, in terms of sensory impairment, as well as stationery body control. However, there were indications of affirmative and remarkable improvements for children in the treatment group in terms of their locomotion and object manipulation. Nevertheless, children in the control group had minimal and non-statistically significant changes (Silva, Schalock, Garberg, & Smith, 2012). Using the Wilcoxon signed rank test, the study revealed that children with down syndrome experienced positive but statistically significant improvements, in terms of their sensory impairment and locomotion domains. On the other hand, children with cerebral palsy experienced positive and statistically significant enhancements, in all of the three motor domains. This included stationery body control, movement or locomotion, and object manipulation. Therefore, outcomes improved significantly from pre-intervention, follow-up and then to post intervention, that is why there were no dissimilarities in longitudinal outcomes between children with CP and those with DS (Silva, Schalock, Garberg, & Smith, 2012). What Do The Findings Mean? Given that the study revealed that sensory responses did not alter after treatment, then motor improvements do not happen through sensory mechanism. Therefore the key pattern in Chinese medicine is that illness and disability are reflected in reduced energy, as well as blood flow, while health is mirrored with plentiful energy plus blood flow. Thus, Qigong massage is suited to younger children with such disabilities, as it helps in enhancing function by maximizing circulation by reducing disability brunt. for that reason, Qigong massage can provide the means to stimulate language acquisition for younger children with DS as children without receptive language managed to acquire receptive language (Silva, Schalock, Garberg, & Smith, 2012). What Are The Limitations of the Study? The intervention period was short based on nature and reasons for motor delay as the improvements were considerable and lasting. It was a very small pilot study with smaller sample size and a shorter period of intervention (Silva, Schalock, Garberg, & Smith, 2012). Silva, L., Schalock, M., Garberg, J., & Smith, C. L. (2012). Qigong massage for motor skills in young children with cerebral palsy and down syndrome. Am J Occup Ther , 66 (3), 348-355. Summary The researchers used a small randomized restricted study in assessing the outcome of twofold parent delivered and trainer delivered Qigong massage. The researchers evaluated the children motor skills, as well as sensory responses for the two groups. A total of 28 kids all under the age of 4 and having developmental delay with motor tone abnormalities were used in the study. Fourteen children in the first group had elevated motor tone, due to cerebral palsy, while the other 14 kids had short motor tone due to down syndrome. Thus, using Multivariate analysis plus post-hoc assessment of variance, the study revealed greater outcome-size enhancements in the children gross motor degree, and Object Manipulation levels in treatment and the control group, following 5 mo. interventions. Furthermore, follow-up assessments of 10 mo. revealed continuous improvement. However, sensory responses revealed no treatment outcome. The limitation included short intervention period based on nature and reasons for motor delay, as the improvements were considerable and lasting, given that it was a very small pilot study with smaller sample size and a shorter period of intervention. The outcome suggest additional investigation with larger sample size should be done on qigong massage as a likely means improving motor skills in young children having cerebral palsy and down syndrome. What OT Might Do With This Information Based on the outcome of the study, occupational therapists can easily conduct and monitor a parent performed home based program using qigong massage for their children with motor delays. Secondly, qigong massage provides occupational therapists with an added avenue for replacing alternative therapies. Reason being that, it is more effective in enhancing functional skills as well as providing a better way of reducing impact of inability (Silva, Schalock, Garberg, & Smith, 2012). Read More