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Upper extremity resistance exercise with elastic bands for respiratory function in children with cerebral palsy
1Department of Physical Therapy, Ulsan Rehabilitation Social Welfare Center, Republic of Korea.
Insights
Upper extremity resistance exercise with elastic bands improved maximal expiratory pressure and grip strength in children with cerebral palsy. This intervention positively impacts respiratory function and physical capabilities in this population.
Area of Science:
- Pediatrics
- Rehabilitation Medicine
- Exercise Physiology
Background:
- Cerebral palsy (CP) often affects motor function, including respiratory muscles.
- Limited research exists on the impact of specific exercise interventions on respiratory function in children with CP.
Purpose of the Study:
- To investigate the effects of upper extremity resistance exercise using elastic bands on respiratory function and grip strength in children with cerebral palsy.
Main Methods:
- Fifteen children with CP were assigned to an experimental (n=8) or control (n=7) group.
- The experimental group performed 8 weeks of additional upper extremity resistance exercise with elastic bands.
- Pulmonary function, respiratory muscle strength, and grip strength were measured pre- and post-intervention.
Main Results:
- No significant changes were observed in forced vital capacity, forced expiratory volume in one second, or peak expiratory flow in either group.
- The experimental group showed a significant increase in maximal expiratory pressure compared to the control group.
- Grip strength significantly improved in the experimental group post-intervention.
Conclusions:
- Upper extremity resistance exercise with elastic bands positively influences expiratory muscle strength in children with CP.
- This exercise modality is effective in enhancing grip strength in this population.
- Elastic band exercises represent a viable option for improving specific functional outcomes in pediatric cerebral palsy.
Abstract:
[Purpose] We investigated the effects of upper extremity resistance exercise with elastic bands on respiratory function in children with cerebral palsy. [Subjects and Methods] Fifteen children were divided into two groups: the experimental (n=8) and control (n=7) groups. Both groups performed general exercises for 30 minutes per session, two times a week during the intervention period. The experimental group performed an additional upper extremity resistance exercise with elastic bands for 20-30 minutes per session, twice weekly for 8 weeks. Pulmonary function, and respiratory muscle and grip strength were measured before and after the exercise. [Results] There was no significant difference in forced vital capacity, forced expiratory volume in one second, the ratio of forced expiratory volume in one second to forced vital capacity, and peak expiratory flow before and after the intervention in either group. The increment of maximal expiratory pressure was significantly greater in the experimental group, compared with the control group. In addition, grip strength was significantly increased in the experimental group after the intervention than before. [Conclusion] We found that upper extremity resistance exercise with elastic bands has a positive effect on expiration and improves grip strength in children with cerebral palsy.
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