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Effects of Power Training on Gait, Power, and Function in Children with Cerebral Palsy
Michaella Drumm1, Julia Fabiano1, Evelyn Lee1
1Department of Rehabilitation and Regenerative Medicine, Columbia University Irving Medical Center, New York, NY, USA.
Insights
Power training shows promising results for improving muscle power, gait speed, and function in children with cerebral palsy (CP). More research is needed to confirm these benefits and guide exercise prescriptions for this population.
Area of Science:
- Pediatric Rehabilitation
- Neuromuscular Physiology
- Movement Science
Background:
- Cerebral palsy (CP) often impacts motor function, including gait speed, muscle power, and overall functional mobility.
- Power training and plyometrics are interventions that may enhance neuromuscular capabilities.
Purpose of the Study:
- To review existing literature on the effects of power training on gait, power, and function in ambulatory children with CP.
- To identify variations in exercise dosage and rehabilitation recommendations for power training and plyometrics in this population.
Main Methods:
- A systematic search of four databases (PubMed, CINAHL, Embase, Cochrane) was conducted.
- Included studies focused on power or plyometric training with outcomes related to gait, power, or functional performance.
- Effect sizes (ES) were calculated for randomized controlled trials (RCTs); other study designs were evaluated qualitatively.
Main Results:
- Ten articles met the criteria, including four RCTs.
- Power training demonstrated consistent improvements in muscle power, with notable effect sizes for measures like the mean Muscle Power Spectrum Test (MPST).
- Improvements were also observed in functional tests such as the 1-minute walk test (1 MWT), 6-minute walk test (6MWT), and Gross Motor Function Measure (GMFM) Dimensions D and E, though effects on gait speed varied.
Conclusions:
- Limited but promising evidence suggests power training can enhance gait speed, muscle power, and function in children with CP.
- Further high-quality research with larger, diverse populations is necessary to confirm these findings.
- Future studies should aim to determine long-term effects and optimize exercise prescription for power training in children with CP.
Aims:
This scoping review aims to: 1) examine available literature regarding the effects of power training on gait speed, power, and function in ambulatory children with CP and 2) identify the variations in exercise dosage and rehabilitation recommendations for power training and plyometrics in children with CP.
Methods:
Four databases (PubMed, CINAHL, Embase, and Cochrane) were searched for papers including power or plyometric training with outcome measures for gait, power or functional performance. ES was calculated for RCTs. Cohorts and case series/studies were evaluated qualitatively.
Results:
Ten articles fit search criteria: four RCTs, three cohort studies, one case series, and two case studies. Power training consistently demonstrated improvements in muscle power compared to its effects on gait and function. ES of mean MPST (W) ranged from 0.36-1.13. 1 MWT and SSGS ES were 1.31 and 1.15, respectively. TUG ES ranged from -0.33 to -2.42. ES for GMFM-66 was 0.13 and 1.11 for Dimension D and Dimension E, respectively.
Conclusions:
There is limited, but promising evidence to support that power training may improve gait speed, power, and function in children with CP. Future, more robust research is required to examine effects in a larger, diverse population, to determine long-term effects and exercise prescription.
