ABSTRACT
Objective:To observe the effect of oral-facial muscle training applying virtual reality technology (VR) and of action observation therapy on the salivation of children with cerebral palsy (CP).Methods:Sixty CP children with uncontrolled salivation were randomly divided into a control group and an observation group, each of 30. In addition to conventional rehabilitation treatment, the control group received routine tongue muscle training, buccal lip muscle training, ice stimulation, and Masako swallowing training. The observation group received oral-facial muscle training based on action observation therapy in a virtual environment. Both groups were trained 30min per day, 5 times a week for 3 weeks. Before and after the treatment, drooling (DDSS) and swallowing function scores were evaluated. Integrated surface electromyography (iEMG) of the buccinator and orbicularis oris muscles was also performed.Results:After treatment, a significant decrease was observed in the average DDSS and the swallowing function scores of both the control and observation groups, along with a significant increase in the average root mean square values of the buccinator and orbicularis oris iEMGs of both groups. However, the average DDSS score of the observation group was significantly lower than that of the control group, while the average iEMG readings were significantly better.Conclusion:VR-based action observation oral-facial muscle training is a more effective supplement to conventional rehabilitation treatment than conventional oral-facial muscle training in improving the salivation of children with CP.