본 연구에서는 경직형 뇌성마비아동에게 수중운동치료를 적용하여 뇌성마비아동의 운동기능 및 균형능력에 미치는 영향을 평가하고 효과 및 변화를 분석해 보고자 하였다. 경직형 뇌성마비아동 20명을 대상으로 하였으며 수중운동치료를 적용한 실험군 10명과 신경발달치료(NDT)를 적용한 대조군 10명으로 나누어 배정 하였다. 하루 30분, 주 2회, 총 6주 간의 운동전후에 대동작운동기능과 균형능력을 측정하였다. 실험군과 대조군 대상자의 성별, 나이, 뇌성마비 유형에는 유의차가 나타나지 않는 동일한 집단이었다. 대동작운동기능에서는 기기와 무릎서기, 걷기와 뛰기 및 달리기 항목에서 실험군은 전후 유의한 차이가 나타났고 군간 변화량도 유의한 차이를 보였다. 대동작운동기능에서 서기 항목에서는 실험군은 전후 유의한 차이가 나타났지만 군간 변화량에선 유의한 차이가 나타나지 않았다. 균형능력에서 실험군은 전후유의한 차이가 나타났으며 군간 변화량에서도 유의한 차이가 나타났다. 본 연구를 바탕으로 수중운동치료를 적용하여 다양한 연령대와 다양한 뇌성마비 유형간의 비교, 더 많은 대상자에게 적용하는 등 지속적인 연구가 필요할 것으로 사료된다.

The purpose of this study is to analyze the effects of aquatic exercise therapy on motor function and balance in children with spastic cerebral palsy. Subjects of this study, among the children who received the diagnosis spastic cerebral palsy, for children total of 20 people have agreed to research. Experimental group 10 people, control group 10 people, was a total of 20 people. Group-specific arbitration method, was applied to aquatic exercise (experimental group) and neuro developmental treatment (control group). Each training courses 30 minutes twice weekly, examined the changes in motor function and balance ability to examine a total of 6-week course effectively. The results of this study is First, experimental group appeared a significant difference in motor function(p < .01), and significant difference in the control group was observed(p < .05). Comparison between groups before and after the variation, Crawling and Kneeling, Walking, Jumping and Running, in the experimental group, was observed a significant difference (p < .05). In the Standing part, significant differences between the groups did not observed(p > .05). Secondly, a significant difference appeared in the balance capability of the experimental groups after the experiment(p < .01), a significant difference was observed in the control group(p < .05). Comparison between groups before and after the variation, a significant difference was observed in the balance ability in the experimental group(p < .05). Looking in total from the above results, it is suggested that it is possible to aquatic exercise 6 weeks improves motor function and balance capability of the children with spastic cerebral palsy. Therefore, it is possible that the application of aquatic exercise is to effective in improvement of motor function and balance ability to children with spastic cerebral palsy. Future research should Not only increases the number of subjects, but also should a variety of studies are performed to investigate the effect of aquatic exercise to be applied to children of different types of cerebral palsy.