title: An aerobic exercise program for young people with cerebral palsy in specialist schools: A phase I randomized controlled trial.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  To evaluate the safety, adherence, and estimates of effect of an aerobic exercise program in specialist schools for young people with cerebral palsy.
  
  
  METHODS
  Nineteen students with cerebral palsy were randomly allocated to an intervention group who completed an aerobic exercise program (27 sessions over nine weeks) or a control group who completed social/art activities over the same time.
  
  
  RESULTS
  There were no serious adverse events and the exercise program was completed with high rates of attendance (77%) and adherence to target heart rate zones (79%). Effect sizes favored the intervention group for measures of cardiovascular performance (sub-maximal treadmill test, effect size d = 0.7; muscle power sprint test, d = 0.9) and participation (Preference for Active-Physical Activities, d = 0.6).
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  An aerobic exercise program in specialist schools for young people with cerebral palsy, that may improve measures of cardiovascular performance, can be completed safely, with moderately high levels of adherence.
authors.affiliation: a School of Allied Health , La Trobe University , Victoria , Australia.
authors.forename: Stacey L
authors.initials: SL
authors.lastname: Cleary
authors.affiliation: a School of Allied Health , La Trobe University , Victoria , Australia.|b Allied Health Clinical Research Office, Eastern Health , Victoria , Australia.
authors.forename: Nicholas F
authors.initials: NF
authors.lastname: Taylor
authors.affiliation: c College of Science, Health and Engineering , La Trobe University , Victoria , Australia.
authors.forename: Karen J
authors.initials: KJ
authors.lastname: Dodd
authors.affiliation: a School of Allied Health , La Trobe University , Victoria , Australia.|d Northern Health , Victoria , Australia.
authors.forename: Nora
authors.initials: N
authors.lastname: Shields
mesh_terms: D000293:Adolescent; D002547:Cerebral Palsy / Q000503:physiopathology / Q000534:rehabilitation*; D002648:Child; D004519:Education, Special / Q000379:methods; D015444:Exercise; D005081:Exercise Therapy / Q000009:adverse effects / Q000379:methods*; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D000066530:Neurological Rehabilitation / Q000379:methods*
keywords: Disability; feasibility; physical activity; physiotherapy; rehabilitation