Effectiveness of functional progressive resistance exercise strength training on muscle strength and mobility in children with cerebral palsy: a randomized controlled trial.
OBJECTIVE
To evaluate the effectiveness of functional progressive resistance exercise (PRE) strength training on muscle strength and mobility in children with cerebral palsy (CP).


METHODS
Fifty-one children with spastic uni- and bilateral CP; (29 males, 22 females; mean age 10 y 5 mo, SD 1 y 10 mo, range 6 y 0 mo-13 y 10 mo; Gross Motor Function Classification System levels I-III) were randomized to the intervention group (n=26) or the control group (n=25, receiving usual care). The intervention group trained for 12 weeks, three times a week, on a five-exercise circuit, which included a leg-press and functional exercises. The training load progressively increased based on the child's maximum level of strength, determined by the eight-repetition maximum. Muscle strength (measured with hand-held dynamometry and a six-repetition maximum leg-press test), mobility (measured with the Gross Motor Function Measure, two functional tests, and a mobility questionnaire), and spasticity (measured by the appearance of a catch) were evaluated before, during, directly after, and 6 weeks after the end of training by two blinded research assistants.


RESULTS
Directly after training, there was a statistically significant effect (p<0.05) on muscle strength (knee extensors +12% [0.56 N/kg; 95% confidence interval {CI} 0.13-0.99]; hip abductors +11% [0.27 N/kg; 95% CI 0.00-0.54]; total +8% [1.30 N/kg; 95% CI 0.56-2.54]; six-repetition maximum +14% [14%; 95% CI 1.99-26.35]), but not on mobility or spasticity. A detraining effect was seen after 6 weeks.


CONCLUSIONS
Twelve weeks of functional PRE strength training increases muscle strength up to 14%. This strength gain did not lead to improved mobility.
Department of Rehabilitation Medicine, EMGO Institute for Health and Care Research, VU University Medical Center, Amsterdam, the Netherlands.
Vanessa A
VA
Scholtes
Jules G
JG
Becher
Anton
A
Comuth
Hurnet
H
Dekkers
Lieseke
L
Van Dijk
Annet J
AJ
Dallmeijer
D000293:Adolescent; D002547:Cerebral Palsy / Q000628:therapy*; D002648:Child; D004185:Disability Evaluation; D005260:Female; D007839:Functional Laterality; D006615:Hip; D006801:Humans; D007717:Knee; D008297:Male; D009068:Movement; D009128:Muscle Spasticity; D053580:Muscle Strength; D055070:Resistance Training / Q000379:methods*; D016037:Single-Blind Method; D011795:Surveys and Questionnaires; D013997:Time Factors; D016896:Treatment Outcome