title: Effects of strength training aided by electrical stimulation on wrist muscle characteristics and hand function of children with hemiplegic cerebral palsy.
abstract: Nine children with spastic hemiplegic cerebral palsy underwent 24 sessions of wrist muscles strengthening in the extended wrist range aided by electrostimulation. Isometric strength of flexors and extensors was registered in three wrist positions (30 degrees of flexion, neutral, and 30 degrees of extension) to infer on angle-torque curves. Passive stiffness of wrist flexors and wrist flexion angle during manual tasks and hand function were also documented. Significant strength gains were observed at 30 degrees of wrist extension for flexors (p= 0.029) and extensors (p= 0.024). No gains were observed at 30 degrees of flexion. The difference in extensor strength between the three test positions changed after intervention (p< 0.034), suggesting a shift in the angle-torque curve. No changes were observed in passive stiffness (p= 0.506), wrist angle (p< 0.586), or hand function (p= 0.525). Strength training in specific joint ranges may alter angle-torque relationships. For functional gains to be observed, however, a more aggressive intervention and contextualized task training would probably be needed.
authors.affiliation: Physical Therapy Department, Universidade Federal de Minas Gerais, Belo Horizonte, Brazil. danielavvaz@gmail.com
authors.forename: Daniela Virgínia
authors.initials: DV
authors.lastname: Vaz
authors.forename: Marisa Cotta
authors.initials: MC
authors.lastname: Mancini
authors.forename: Sérgio Teixeira
authors.initials: ST
authors.lastname: da Fonseca
authors.forename: Nayara Flamini
authors.initials: NF
authors.lastname: Arantes
authors.forename: Tatiana Pessoa da Silva
authors.initials: TP
authors.lastname: Pinto
authors.forename: Priscila Albuquerque
authors.initials: PA
authors.lastname: de Araújo
mesh_terms: D001696:Biomechanical Phenomena; D002547:Cerebral Palsy / Q000150:complications / Q000503:physiopathology / Q000534:rehabilitation*; D002648:Child; D004599:Electric Stimulation Therapy / Q000379:methods*; D005260:Female; D006225:Hand / Q000503:physiopathology*; D006429:Hemiplegia / Q000209:etiology / Q000503:physiopathology / Q000534:rehabilitation*; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D018482:Muscle, Skeletal / Q000503:physiopathology*; D020127:Recovery of Function; D055070:Resistance Training / Q000379:methods*; D016896:Treatment Outcome; D014953:Wrist / Q000503:physiopathology