Relationships of muscle strength and bone mineral density in ambulatory children with cerebral palsy

Abstract

These results suggest the muscle strength, especially antigravity muscle strength, were more associated with the bone density of ambulatory children with CP than motor function. The data may allow clinicians for early identifying the ambulatory CP children of potential low bone density.

Knee muscle strength at varying angular velocities and associations with gross motor function in ambulatory children with cerebral palsy

“…This result is consistent with previous studies (Chen, Lin, et al, 2012;Fowler et al, 2010;Larsson et al, 2008). Furthermore, the reduced knee flexor strength is exaggerated between children with GMFCS level II and those with GMFCS level I.…”

“…In this study, children with GMFCS level II had lower gross motor function, trunk muscular endurance, and knee muscle strength, and especially knee flexor, compared to those with GMFCS level I. These results were compatible with previous studies (Chen, Lin, et al, 2012;Chen, Hong, et al, 2012). The muscle weakness associated with CP may be the direct result of an upper motor neuron lesion impairing neural output and neuromotor control (Moreau, Jolicoeur, & Peretz, 2009;Rose & McGill, 1998).…”

“…The curl-up score was associated with GMFM-66 score and BOTMP RSA sub-score by 7% of variance. Previous studies also showed that peak torque of knee flexor and extensor was moderately related to the GMFM-88 (Damiano et al, 2001), and knee flexor was more correlated with GMFM-66 for children with ambulatory CP than knee flexor (Chen, Lin, et al, 2012). The core muscles, i.e., the abdominal muscle group and the back extensors, are considered important postural muscles for trunk control (Hrysomallis & Goodman, 2001).…”

“…Children with CP exhibit weakness not only in limb muscles (Chen, Lin, et al, 2012;Larsson, Karlsson, & Gerdle, 2008), but also in trunk muscles (Prosser, Lee, VanSant, Barbe, & Lauer, 2010;Rosenbaum et al, 2007). Muscle strength and endurance must be accurately measured for effective treatment of children with CP who show muscle weakness.…”

Aging and Bone Health in Individuals with Developmental Disabilities

“…This suggests that multiple complex variables can contribute to bone density variations among different skeletal areas in these children [59]. Results from another recent study suggest that muscle strength, especially antigravity muscle strength, was more associated with the bone density of ambulatory children with CP than motor function [60]. However, it must be noted that not all predictive factors for developing low BMD in this population have been studied; for example, daylight exposure time and amount of exercise have not been investigated [51].…”