The effects of progressive resistance training on daily physical activity in young people with cerebral palsy: a randomised controlled trial

Abstract

Purpose: To examine if individualised resistance training increases the daily physical activity of adolescents and young adults with bilateral spastic cerebral palsy (CP).Method: Young people with bilateral spastic CP were randomly assigned to intervention or to usual care. The intervention group completed an individualised lower limb progressive resistance training programme twice a week for 12 weeks in community gymnasiums. The primary outcome was daily physical activity ( number of steps, and time sitting and lying). Secondary outcomes included muscle strength measured with a one-repetition maximum (1RM) leg press and reverse leg press. Outcomes were measured at baseline, 12 weeks, and 24 weeks. Results:From the 36 participants with complete data at 12 weeks there were no between-group differences for any measure of daily physical activity. There was a likely increase in leg press strength in favour of the intervention group (mean difference 11.8 kg; 95%CI: -1.4 to 25.0). No significant adverse events occurred during training. Conclusions:A short-term resistance training programme that may increase leg muscle strength was not effective in increasing daily physical activity. Other strategies are needed to address the low daily physical activity levels of young people with bilateral spastic CP.3

The efficacy of interventions to increase physical activity participation of children with cerebral palsy: a systematic review and meta‐analysis

“…Adequate power to detect statistical significance was not achieved (or mentioned) in five studies . In six studies, raters were blinded to the primary outcomes . Five studies used concealed allocation .…”

“…Protocol papers and additional outcomes papers were then sought for included articles where available. Nine studies, comprising 10 articles, two protocol papers, and one additional outcome paper, were included. Seven studies were RCTs, one was a case–control design, and the remaining an interrupted time‐series design .…”

“…Six articles presented data that could be pooled in meta‐analyses (Fig. S1, online supporting information) …”

“…jumping, throwing, reaching, or squatting) in a one‐one setting or videogame format . Interventions were delivered in community, home, and school contexts, with two interventions applied in more than one context . Interventions were delivered by either a physiotherapist or an occupational therapist, were self/participant‐directed with or without additional support, or were not described .…”

“…Seven studies had one or more intervention components acting at the level of body structures and functions, eight at activities, four at participation, and four at contextual factors. One intervention acted only at the body structures and functions domain. Only two interventions had components that collectively targeted all four ICF domains.…”