A COMPARATIVE CLINICAL TRIAL TO ASSESS THE ADD ON EFFECT OF ASVAGANDHA [WITHANIA SOMNIFERA (L.) DUNAL] IN MOTOR FUNCTIONS OF CHILDREN WITH MOTOR DEVELOPMENTAL DISORDERS

摘要

Motor Developmental Disorders are caused by an impairment or interruption in the normal growth and development of a child in motor grounds. Asvagandha [Withania somnifera (L.) Dunal]. was found to be an apt drug in this condition theoretically, which is balya (strengthening), brmhana (nourishing), rasayana (rejuvenating), medhya (brain stimulant) and also proved to have effect in the neuromuscular level. The study was planned as a Comparative Clinical Trial to assess the add on effect of Asvagandha along with the conventional treatment adopted by the Department of Kaumarabhritya (Paediatrics) at V.P.S.V. Ayurveda College Hospital, Kottakkal, Kerala, India. Twenty participants diagnosed with motor developmental disorders were selected and were divided into study and control groups. Duration of drug administration was three months. Assessment of both the groups was carried on the basis of four subjective parameters such as muscle bulk, power, tone and deep tendon reflexes. Statistical procedure used was R M ANOVA. Study group had an upper hand over the control in most of the parameters especially in the field of ‘power’ and ‘tone’. But statistically the result was not significant.