A Prospective Study of Two Home Based Muscle Strengthening Programs for Children With Cerebral Palsy
Cerebral Palsy
About this trial
This is an interventional treatment trial for Cerebral Palsy focused on measuring Cerebral Palsy, Muscle structure, Strength training
Eligibility Criteria
Inclusion Criteria:
- Ambulatory children with unilateral or bilateral spastic cerebral palsy
- Age between 8-16 years
- Ability to accept and follow verbal instruction
- Gross Motor Function Classification System (GMFCS) at level I-II
- Willingness to participate
Exclusion Criteria:
- Other than spastic form of cerebral palsy (ataxia, athetoid or dystonic)
- Quadriplegia
- History of orthopaedic surgery in the last 12 months
- History of Botulinum Toxin A application in the last 6 months
- Severe mental retardation
Sites / Locations
- LKH Graz - Department of Pediatric and Adolescent Surgery
Arms of the Study
Arm 1
Arm 2
Other
Other
Progressive Resistance Training
High Intensity Interval Training
The key for the PRT is the timely progression of load, based on the child's individual level of strength, which ensures progressive overload. Every training session will consist of a warm up, progressive resistance exercises and a cool down period. During warm up and cool down periods.These exercises will be the same for both training groups. The strength training exercises have been chosen to strengthen the main lower extremity muscle groups which are important for the gait: sit-to-stand, lateral step-ups, the half knee rise, heel-rises and bridging. All these exercises are performed loaded according to the individual level. Three sets of 8 to 10 repetitions of each exercise will be practiced on 3 non-consecutive days with moderate velocity.
The High Intensity Circuit Training is a sub form of High Intensity Interval Training. The key feature is the very little rest between the exercises which causes a consistent elevation of the participant's heart rate and a short duration of the whole exercise session. Every training session consists of a warm-up, a circuit of 5 exercises (the same as these in the PRT group) and a cool-down period. The children will be asked to train 3 times a week on non-consecutive days and to perform 3 sets. Exercise workload is controlled by determination of time intervals (30 seconds). The children will be instructed to perform as many repetitions as possible during the exercise interval and to keep the rest between the exercises short (it must not exceed 30 seconds).