Background: Some authors suggest that correction of ambulation using orthosis is required for children with cerebral palsy. Nowadays major attention is paid to orthopedic shoes. However, joint deformities, which are a result of spastic paralysis, are not corrected by orthopedic shoes because child’s foot deformity is not adjusted to the foot but vice versa. Aim: The aim of the study was to find out if ankle-foot orthoses (AFO) and physiotherapy intervention improves ambulation in 6-10 year old children with cerebral palsy (CP). Methods: In the study, 6-10 year old children (n=10) with CP (2 girls and 8 boys) were selected from kindergarten-school. Control group (n=20) was used to compare gait parameters. Gait parameters, 10 meter walking speed and passive range of motion (ROM) was measured for comparison. Conclusions: Findings of the study suggest that, both ankle-foot orthoses and orthoses combined with physiotherapy improve ambulation in children with cerebral palsy.

Education reform changes taking place in Lithuania, one of the main tasks of this reform became the reorganization of education of children with special needs. The reorganization of special education changes not only the state of children with special needs but also the whole educational system. The isolation of these children that existed before the reorganization objected the principle of equal learning opportunities. The accepted child’s birthright to live in his/her own family, to be brought up in familiar environment which meets his/her needs. It became the main assumption of disabled children integrated learning at secondary schools. More and more children, having cerebral palsy (CP), are being educated at secondary schools. Despite big attempts to create optimal conditions for educating these children, it is not always successful. The author of this work was interested in difficulties that children of this category, their pedagogues, parents and classmates meet with, when these children are educated to integrate into secondary schools. Aim of research: to view and to evaluate providing complex help to children, having CP, integrating into secondary schools. Object of research: education of children having children cerebral paralysis at integrated secondary schools. Aims of research: 1. Evaluate special educational needs of children who took part in this research. 2. To find out the breaches of educating children with CP at secondary schools. 3. Referring to... [to full text]