Progress in physical therapy for sleep disorders in children and adolescents / 中华实用儿科临床杂志

ABSTRACT

Sleep disorders are common in children and adolescents, especially in those with neurodevelopmental and mental disorders, but treatment strategies remain limited.The main therapeutic methods for sleep disorders in children and adolescents include cognitive behavioral therapy, surgical therapy, drug therapy, and physical therapy.Conventional cognitive behavioral therapy is expensive; plus, the number of qualified sleep physicians and therapists is limited, and patient′s compliance is low.Drug therapy is the most commonly used treatment for insomnia in children and adolescents, but it lacks evidence-based indications and safety and has many adverse reactions, and its long-term efficacy is unknown.Physical therapy that changes the activity of central and peripheral nerves through physical stimulation such as magnetism, electricity, sound and light can provide valuable alternative or complementary treatment for individuals with sleep disorders who can′t get conventional treatment, have poor tolerance or are ineffective.In this paper, 4 common clinical physical therapies (transcranial magnetic stimulation, transcranial direct current stimulation, light therapy, and hyperbaric oxygen therapy) and their application in treating sleep disorders in children and adolescents are reviewed, providing scientific basis and new ideas for the future clinical treatment of sleep disorders in children and adolescents.