Effect of a Combined Stretching and Strength Training Program on Gait Function in Children with Cerebral Palsy, GMFCS...

Area of Science:

• Pediatrics
• Neurology
• Rehabilitation Medicine

Background:

• Ambulant children with cerebral palsy (CP) frequently exhibit impaired gait.
• Reduced active knee extension is a common contributing factor to gait dysfunction in CP.
• Targeting active knee extension is a potential therapeutic strategy for improving gait in CP.

Purpose of the Study:

• To evaluate the efficacy of a combined intervention program of stretching and progressive resistance exercise (PRE) on gait function in children with spastic CP.
• To assess the impact of the intervention on specific gait parameters including kinematics, step length, speed, Gait Deviation Index (GDI), and Six-Minute Walk test (6MWT).

Main Methods:

• A randomized controlled trial involving 37 ambulant children with CP (Gross Motor Function Classification System I-III).
• Intervention group received a 16-week combined stretching and PRE program followed by a 16-week maintenance program.
• Comparison group received usual care.
• Gait analysis utilized three-dimensional gait analysis (3DGA) and the 6MWT at baseline, 16, and 32 weeks.

Main Results:

• No statistically significant differences in gait parameters were observed between the intervention and comparison groups at 16 and 32 weeks.
• Both groups showed significant improvements in gait distance on the 6MWT, with no inter-group differences.
• The combined intervention did not yield superior gait improvements compared to usual care.

Conclusions:

• A 16-week combined stretching and PRE program, followed by a maintenance phase, did not significantly improve gait function in ambulant children with CP.
• The findings suggest that this specific exercise regimen may not be sufficient to alter gait parameters in this population.
• Further research is needed to explore alternative or modified interventions for improving gait in children with CP.