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Functional Task Training Combined With Electrical Stimulation Improves Motor Capacity in Children With Unilateral

Rejane Vale Gonçalves1, Sérgio Teixeira Fonseca, Priscila Albuquerque de Araújo

  • 1Graduate Program in Rehabilitation Sciences (Drs Fonseca, Araújo, Souza, Resende and Mancini), School of Physical Education, Physical Therapy and Occupational Therapy, Universidade Federal de Minas Gerais, Belo Horizonte, MG, Brazil; Physical Therapy Department (Dr Gonçalves), Faculdade de Ciências Médicas de Minas Gerais, Belo Horizonte, MG, Brazil.

Pediatric Physical Therapy : the Official Publication of the Section on Pediatrics of the American Physical Therapy Association
|March 14, 2019
PubMed

Insights

This study found that a task-oriented training program with functional electrical stimulation (FES) improved gross motor function and mobility in children with spastic unilateral cerebral palsy (SUCP). The intervention enhanced their walking ability and propulsive capability.

Area of Science:

  • Pediatrics
  • Neurology
  • Rehabilitation Medicine

Background:

  • Children with spastic unilateral cerebral palsy (SUCP) often experience reduced propulsive capability, negatively impacting their mobility.
  • Impaired motor function in SUCP affects daily activities and quality of life.

Purpose of the Study:

  • To investigate the effects of a task-oriented training program combined with functional electrical stimulation (FES) on the motor capacity of children with SUCP.
  • To assess improvements in gait parameters and overall gross motor function.

Main Methods:

  • A single-case A-B design with follow-up was employed, involving 4 children with SUCP.
  • Intervention consisted of a task-oriented training program with FES applied to the gastrocnemius muscle.
  • Outcome measures included gait speed, impulsive torque, and ankle/hip power generation ratio, analyzed using 2-SD band and celeration line methods.

Main Results:

  • One child demonstrated improved walking speed.
  • All participants showed enhanced impulsive torque and ankle/hip power generation ratio in the affected leg.
  • Significant improvements in gross motor function were observed across all children.

Conclusions:

  • The combined task-oriented training and FES intervention positively influenced the mobility of children with SUCP.
  • The intervention effectively improved children's propulsive capability.
  • This approach offers a promising strategy for enhancing motor function in pediatric SUCP.
Abstract

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