We propose to identify patients and families for inclusion in pilot studies of the three modalities. Patients and their families will be asked to participate in these studies.

Our research group has done some preliminary work with the modality of hypnotherapy, but has no experience to date with the other two modalities. The idea to try relaxation techniques was generated by the observation that there is great variation in the degree to spasticity at different times in the same patient with CP. When queried, mothers responded that they were able to get their child to relax and decrease the tension in their muscles by stroking, talking softly, and/or by playing certain types of music. The availability of hypnosis and training in self-hypnosis was presented to several families of our patients. Their understanding and acceptance of this alternate therapy was gratifying. The results of this therapy have been promising and have encouraged us to proceed with this modality and to consider making other nonconventional modalities available to our patients.

We hypothesize that at least one of the two modalities will be accepted readily by patients with CP and their families, and with their acceptance compliance with the method chosen will be at levels of 80 percent or more.