title: Can a lifestyle intervention improve physical fitness in adolescents and young adults with spastic cerebral palsy? A randomized controlled trial.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  To evaluate both the short- and long-term effectiveness of a lifestyle intervention on physical fitness in adolescents and young adults with cerebral palsy (CP).
  
  
  METHODS
  Single-blind, randomized controlled trial.
  
  
  METHODS
  University hospitals and rehabilitation clinics.
  
  
  METHODS
  Adolescents and young adults (N=57) with spastic CP classified in Gross Motor Function Classification System levels I through IV; of these, 42 completed the study.
  
  
  METHODS
  A 6-month lifestyle intervention consisting of physical fitness training combined with counseling sessions focused on physical behavior and sports participation.
  
  
  METHODS
  Physical fitness, including measures of cardiopulmonary fitness, muscle strength, and body composition.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Favorable short- and medium-term effects were found for peak oxygen consumption, oxygen consumption, and load on the anaerobic threshold and waist circumference. Favorable long-term effects were found for sum of skinfolds, systolic blood pressure, and total cholesterol.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  This exploratory study showed that the lifestyle intervention was effective in improving cardiopulmonary fitness and body composition. Effects of body composition were maintained in the long term. However, the intervention needs to be optimized to increase muscle strength and for long-term retention of effects on aerobic capacity.
authors: Department of Rehabilitation, Research Lines MoveFit & Transition Into Adulthood, Erasmus Medical Center, University Medical Center, Rotterdam, The Netherlands; Rijndam Rehabilitation Center, Rotterdam, The Netherlands. Electronic address: j.slaman@erasmusmc.nl.
authors: Jorrit
authors: J
authors: Slaman
authors: Department of Rehabilitation, Research Lines MoveFit & Transition Into Adulthood, Erasmus Medical Center, University Medical Center, Rotterdam, The Netherlands.
authors: Marij
authors: M
authors: Roebroeck
authors: Department of Rehabilitation, Research Lines MoveFit & Transition Into Adulthood, Erasmus Medical Center, University Medical Center, Rotterdam, The Netherlands; Rijndam Rehabilitation Center, Rotterdam, The Netherlands.
authors: Wilma
authors: W
authors: van der Slot
authors: VU Medical Center, Amsterdam, The Netherlands.
authors: Jos
authors: J
authors: Twisk
authors: Rehabilitation Center De Hoogstraat, Utrecht, The Netherlands.
authors: Akkelies
authors: A
authors: Wensink
authors: Department of Rehabilitation, Research Lines MoveFit & Transition Into Adulthood, Erasmus Medical Center, University Medical Center, Rotterdam, The Netherlands.
authors: Henk
authors: H
authors: Stam
authors: Department of Rehabilitation, Research Lines MoveFit & Transition Into Adulthood, Erasmus Medical Center, University Medical Center, Rotterdam, The Netherlands.
authors: Rita
authors: R
authors: van den Berg-Emons
mesh_terms: D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D001823:Body Composition; D002547:Cerebral Palsy / Q000503:physiopathology* / Q000534:rehabilitation*; D003376:Counseling / Q000379:methods; D017079:Exercise Tolerance; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D053580:Muscle Strength; D010101:Oxygen Consumption; D010809:Physical Fitness; D040242:Risk Reduction Behavior; D016037:Single-Blind Method; D055815:Young Adult
keywords: Cerebral palsy; Intervention studies; Physical fitness; Rehabilitation