Year: 2026 | Month: October | Volume: 13 | Issue: 10 | Pages: 212-221
DOI: https://doi.org/10.52403/ijrr.20261019
Combined Directive Therapeutic Play and Music Therapy Improves Motor Coordination in Children with Spastic Cerebral Palsy: A Pilot Study
Dr. Arushi (PT)1, Dr. Manika Saxena (PT)2, Dr. Sarabjeet (PT)3
1Assistant Professor, (Neuro Department) DAV Institute of Physiotherapy and Rehabilitation Jalandhar, Baba Farid University of Health and Sciences, Faridkot,
2Associate Professor, College of Physiotherapy, CMC & H,
3Self-employed,
Corresponding Author: Dr. Arushi
ABSTRACT
Aim/Background: The spastic type of cerebral palsy is known to cause increased muscle tone, loss of motor control, and coordination issues, affecting the child's ability to be independent, with increasing focus on therapeutic play and music therapy. To examine the interaction between directive therapeutic play and music therapy on motor coordination and functional motor skills among children with spastic cerebral palsy, utilizing the Developmental Coordination Disorder Questionnaire (DCDQ).
Methodology: A pilot pretest-posttest study was conducted among 20 children (5–15 years) with spastic cerebral palsy, assigned to two groups (n = 10 each). Group A received combined directive therapeutic play, music therapy, and conventional physiotherapy (60–90 min/session), while Group B received conventional physiotherapy alone (60 min/session), four times weekly for 12 weeks. Motor coordination was assessed using the DCDQ.
Result: The results indicate that the two groups were similar at baseline, which indicates homogeneity. After 12 weeks of training, both groups experienced significant improvement in DCDQ, from “very difficult/difficult” to “easy/very easy.” Repeated measures ANOVA indicated that there was significant improvement in Group A (F = 182.320, p < 0.001) and Group B (F = 24.730, p < 0.001), where there was more improvement in Group A. A significant between-group difference was seen only after 12 weeks of training (p = 0.0468).
Conclusion: The combined intervention enhanced parents' perception of motor coordination and functional motor performance as assessed with DCDQ in comparison with conventional physiotherapy.
Keywords: Developmental Coordination Disorder Questionnaire, Functional Motor Performance, Motor Coordination, Music Therapy, Spastic Cerebral Palsy, Therapeutic Play.
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