EFFECT OF WATSU TECHNIQUE ON SLEEP QUALITY AND SPASTICITY IN ADOLESCENTS WITH CEREBRAL PALSY: CASE SERIES Marcela de Freitas Gimenez, Nathalia Hupsel Silva de Castro

Abstract

The ain of this study was to verify the positive effects of the Watsu technique on sleep quality and spasticity in adolescents with Cerebral Palsy (CP). For that, a descriptive study of case series was carried out, which three teenagers with CP, patients of the Physiotherapy Clinic at Santa Cecília’s University (UNISANTA), aged between 12 and 17 years old, in both genders. In the data collection we used the Evaluation Protocol, Pittsburgh Sleep Quality Index (PSQI) and Ashworth’s Modified Scale. These questionnaires were applied in two moments, before and after the intervention period with Watsu’s, and that was held once a week for a period of two months with thirty minutes of duration after physical therapy in the soil. Two of the three patients presented improvement both in the sleep quality questionnaire and in the assessment of spasticity. In this way, it can be concluded that of the three case reports presented they responded favorably and positively to the Watsu technique, bringing benefits not only in sleep quality and spasticity as well as pain reduction.