Retention of Whole-body Training Effects on Ambulatory Function in Children With Cerebral Palsy (CP_WBVT)

This study will evaluate the retention effects of a four-week whole-body vibration training intervention in children with Cerebral Palsy. The primary outcomes for this study are gait function, including Timed Up and Go and the two-minute walk test. Secondary outcomes of this study include lower extremity gait function, coordination, and gait variability. For this study, a total of 10 children with Cerebral Palsy (CP) will be recruited with 5 being randomly placed into an experimental group and 5 being randomly placed into a control group. Each participant, regardless of group, will complete pre-, post-, and retention testing, with a four-week whole-body vibration training intervention between the pre- and post-testing. The four-week whole-body vibration training will include three visits per week, with the experimental group receiving a vibration stimulus while standing on a vibration platform. Vibration sessions will consist of three-minutes of vibration, followed by three minutes rest, completing this cycle three separate times. The control group will follow a similar pattern, but rather than experiencing vibration, they will hear a sound of the vibration platform through a speaker. Once the four-week training session is finished, participants will return after a three-month retention period to determine whether ambulation function was retained.

This group will receive vibration stimulation while standing on a side-alternating vibration platform. Vibration sessions will occur three times per week over four-weeks. Each session will include three-minutes of vibration followed by three-minutes rest, completing this sequence three times per session

This group will not receive vibration, but will rather hear a recording of the vibration, while still standing on the vibration platform. Still, this group will receive this training three times per week over four-weeks with a similar three-minute rotation as the vibration group.

Whole-body vibration training applies a vibration stimulus to an individual as they are standing on a side-alternating platform. The vibration creates small muscle contractions in the lower extremity musculature which has been shown to improve function and ambulatory function.

Three-dimensional motion capture will be used to track lower extremity segment movement patterns. All measurements will have units of degrees

Inclusion Criteria: Diagnosis of Cerebral Palsy Ability to walk independently Exclusion Criteria: Musculoskeletal injuries or conditions (other than Cerebral Palsy) which alter their independent walking ability