Effect of passive range of motion exercises on lower-extremity goniometric measurements of adults with cerebral palsy: a single-subject design.
OBJECTIVE
People with spastic cerebral palsy often receive passive stretching that is intended to maintain or increase joint passive range of motion (PROM) even though the effectiveness of these exercises has not been definitively demonstrated. The purpose of this study was to determine the effect of PROM exercises on 6 adults with spastic quadriplegia and contractures.


METHODS
Four men and 2 women (X =31 years of age, range=20-44 years) who lived in an institution for people with mental retardation participated in the study.


METHODS
The authors used 2 multiple baseline designs. Three participants (group 1) received lower-extremity PROM exercises during phase A; PROM exercises were discontinued during phase B. Three participants (group 2) did not receive PROM exercises during phase A; PROM exercises were initiated during phase B. Data were analyzed using visual analysis and the C statistic.


RESULTS
Results varied with the method of analysis; however, phase A and phase B measurements, overall, did not differ for either group.


CONCLUSIONS
This study demonstrated use of a single-subject design to measure the effect of PROM exercises on adults with cerebral palsy. The authors concluded that the PROM exercise protocol did not have an effect on the lower-extremity goniometric measurements of the participants.
Cadenhead
Sherri L
SL
Programs for Infants and Children, Anchorage, Alaska, USA.
McEwen
Irene R
IR
Thompson
David M
DM
D000328:Adult; D002547:Cerebral Palsy / Q000534:rehabilitation*; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008607:Intellectual Disability / Q000534:rehabilitation; D007866:Leg / Q000503:physiopathology*; D008297:Male; D015915:Motion Therapy, Continuous Passive / Q000379:methods*; D009119:Muscle Contraction; D009128:Muscle Spasticity / Q000534:rehabilitation*; D026741:Physical Therapy Modalities / Q000379:methods; D016059:Range of Motion, Articular; D012044:Regression Analysis; D012720:Severity of Illness Index; D013997:Time Factors; D016896:Treatment Outcome