title: Exercise training program in children and adolescents with cerebral palsy: a randomized controlled trial.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  To evaluate the effects of an 8-month training program with standardized exercises on aerobic and anaerobic capacity in children and adolescents with cerebral palsy.
  
  
  METHODS
  Pragmatic randomized controlled clinical trial with blinded outcome evaluation between July 2005 and October 2006.
  
  
  METHODS
  Participants were recruited from 4 schools for special education in the Netherlands.
  
  
  METHODS
  A total of 86 children with cerebral palsy (aged 7-18 years) classified at Gross Motor Function Classification System level I or II.
  
  
  METHODS
  Participants were randomly assigned to either the training group (n = 32) or the control group (n = 33). The training group met twice per week for 45 minutes to circuit train in a group format that focused on aerobic and anaerobic exercises.
  
  
  METHODS
  Aerobic capacity was assessed by the 10-m shuttle run test, and anaerobic capacity was assessed by the Muscle Power Sprint Test. Secondary outcome measures included agility, muscle strength, self-competence, gross motor function, participation level, and health-related quality of life.
  
  
  RESULTS
  A significant training effect was found for aerobic (P < .001) and anaerobic capacity (P = .004). A significant effect was also found for agility (P < .001), muscle strength (P < .001), and athletic competence (P = .005). The intensity of participation showed a similar effect for formal (P < .001), overall (P = .002), physical (P = .005), and skilled-based activities (P < .001). On the health-related quality of life measure, a significant improvement was found for the motor (P = .001), autonomy (P = .02), and cognition (P = .04) domains.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  An exercise training program improves physical fitness, participation level, and quality of life in children with cerebral palsy when added to standard care.
  
  
  BACKGROUND
  isrctn.org Identifier: ISRCTN77274716.
authors.affiliation: Rehabilitation Centre De Hoogstraat, Department of Pediatric Physical Therapy and Exercise Physiology, University Hospital for Children and Youth Het Wilhelmina Kinderziekenhuis, Utrecht, The Netherlands. o.verschuren@dehoogstraat.nl
authors.forename: Olaf
authors.initials: O
authors.lastname: Verschuren
authors.forename: Marjolijn
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Ketelaar
authors.forename: Jan Willem
authors.initials: JW
authors.lastname: Gorter
authors.forename: Paul J M
authors.initials: PJ
authors.lastname: Helders
authors.forename: Cuno S P M
authors.initials: CS
authors.lastname: Uiterwaal
authors.forename: Tim
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Takken
mesh_terms: D000293:Adolescent; D002547:Cerebral Palsy / Q000534:rehabilitation*; D002648:Child; D005081:Exercise Therapy; D006801:Humans; D053580:Muscle Strength; D011788:Quality of Life; D011795:Surveys and Questionnaires