Research on the Effects of Physical Therapy Combined with Psychological Counseling on Improving Cognitive Abilities in Children with Cerebral Palsy

Abstract

This study aims to explore the effects of combining physical therapy and psychological counseling on improving cognitive abilities in children with cerebral palsy (CP). CP children often experience cognitive impairments to varying degrees during development, with
traditional treatments primarily focusing on enhancing motor functions and relatively less research directed at cognitive improvement. This
study selected 80 children with CP aged 4-8 and divided them into four groups: a physical therapy-only group, a psychological counselingonly group, a combined treatment group, and a control group. The intervention period was six months, and cognitive changes in each group
were assessed using cognitive ability testing scales. The results show that combined physical therapy and psychological counseling significantly outperformed single interventions in improving cognitive abilities, particularly in memory, language expression, and problem-solving
abilities. This study demonstrates that combined therapy can effectively enhance cognitive levels in children with CP, providing new ideas and
methods for rehabilitation treatment.