Stationary Cycling and Children with Cerebral Palsy: Case Reports for Two Participants

Abstract

These case reports describe a stationary cycling intervention and outcomes for two child participants (P1 and P2) with spastic diplegic cerebral palsy. Each child completed a 12-week, 30-session cycling intervention consisting of strengthening and cardiorespiratory fitness phases. P1 exhibited higher training intensities, particularly during the cardiorespiratory phase. Average training heart rates were 59% and 35% of maximum heart rate for P1 and P2, respectively. Lower extremity peak knee flexor and extensor moments, gross motor function (Gross Motor Function Measure (GMFM-66)), preferred walking speed (thirty-second walk test), and walking endurance (600-yard walk-run test) were measured pre- and postintervention. Changes in outcome measurements corresponded with differences in exercise intensity. Greater gains in peak knee extensor moments, GMFM-66 scores (+4.2 versus +0.9), 600-yard walk-run test (-29% versus 0%) occurred for P1 versus P2, respectively. Preferred walking speeds did not increase substantially for P1 and decreased for P2.

The PEDALS stationary cycling intervention and health‐related quality of life in children with cerebral palsy: a randomized controlled trial

“…Exercise intensity for individual participants, however, was variable. As illustrated in case reports for two PEDALS participants, 15 motivation was not always optimal, particularly for the cardiorespiratory component.…”

“…An intervention was not provided for the control group. More detailed descriptions of the PEDALS intervention protocol have been reported 13–15 …”

“…More detailed descriptions of the PEDALS intervention protocol have been reported. [13][14][15] Participants Potential participants were recruited from southern California and south-west Missouri via brochures, flyers, and postings on disability-related websites. Inclusion criteria were: (1) spastic diplegic CP; (2) age between 7 and 18 years; (3) the ability to comply with simple verbal directions; (4) Gross Motor Function Classification System (GMFCS) levels I to III; and (5) selective motor control rating of good or fair for at least one leg.…”

Using the validated PedsQL^TM questionnaires for measuring the quality of life of children who suffer from diabetes mellitus and cerebral palsy

“…24.3% were hemiplegics, 30.4% diplegics and 38.5% quadriplegics. Varni et al (2005) Demuth et al (2012) carried out a study with the goal to assess the quality of life regarding health after a stationary cyclic intervention (a cyclic intervention is a few-week cyclic exercise which includes strengthening and cardio-respiratory fitness phases (Siebert et al,2010)) in children with cerebral palsy. The quality of life was assessed using the PedsQL TM 4.0 generic questionnaire and Pediatric Outcomes Data Collection Instruments (a tool used for the collection of data regarding paediatric outcomes) before and after a three-month station-ary cyclic paediatric intervention.…”

Optimization of electric bicycle for youths with disabilities

“…(Pickering et al 2013)). Such training should improve the coordination, the balance, and also the physical condition (Williams and Pountney 2007; Siebert et al 2010). In general, one distinguishes between active and passive cycling.…”