The Benefits of Adjuvant Rectal Ozone Therapy in Children with Cerebral Palsy

• Hernández García, Sandra Haidee ^[1] ; González Corrales, Santa ^[2] ; Cordero Cabrera, Yuselys de la Caridad ^[1] ; Hernández Bravo, Bárbara del Rosario ^[2] ; García Martínez, Aimara ^[1]
  1. [1] Universidad de Ciencias Médicas de Pinar del Río, Hospital Pediátrico Provincial Docente "Pepe Portilla". Pinar del Río, Cuba.
  2. [2] Universidad de Ciencias Médicas de Pinar del Río, Facultad de Ciencias Médicas "Dr. Ernesto Guevara de la Serna”. Pinar del Río, Cuba.
• Localización: SAP Rehabilitation and Sports Medicine, ISSN-e 3125-246X, Nº. 6, 2026 (Ejemplar dedicado a: Rehabilitation and Sports Medicine)
• Idioma: inglés
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• Resumen

  • Introduction: cerebral palsy is the most common cause of physical disability in children. Preclinical and clinical studies support rectal ozone therapy as an adjunctive treatment to reduce spasticity and improve quality of life in children with spastic cerebral palsy.

    Objective: to determine the efficacy of adjunctive rectal ozone therapy in children with cerebral palsy.

    Method: a quasi-experimental before-and-after study without a control group was conducted in 49 children with cerebral palsy (GMFCS I-IV), aged 1 month to 18 years, treated in Pinar del Río, Cuba (January 2021-December 2024). Rectal ozone (15-25 µg/mL, volume based on age) was administered in 20 daily sessions every 3 months, four cycles per year.

    Results: preschoolers and school-aged children predominated, indicating a delay in the initiation of treatment. Sleep, feeding, and immune patterns improved in the majority. Spasticity decreased more in younger children.

    Conclusions: rectal ozone therapy as an adjunct to standard rehabilitation was safe and well-tolerated, with no serious adverse events. It was associated with clinically and statistically significant improvement in quality of life, sleep, feeding, and reduced illness.