Clinical Trial: Progressive Functional Strength Training in Unilateral Spastic Cerebral Palsy

Study Status: Completed
Recruit Status: Completed
Study Type: Interventional

Official Title: The Effects of Lower Limb Progressive Functional Strength Training Protocol on Body Functions and Activity in Children With Unilateral Spastic Cerebral Palsy: a Single-blind Randomized Controlled Tria

Brief Summary: This study is aimed to investigate effectiveness of progressive functional strength training protocol (functional squat system with virtual reality in leg press, plyometric exercises, exercises with Bosu ball & heel-rise exercises) on Body Functions and activity in children with unilateral spastic Cerebral Palsy (CP) by applying current guidelines. According to literature, there are studies that investigate the effects of functional strength training in children with CP. But there is no randomized controlled trial, explore the effects of progressive functional strength training protocol on body functions and activity on unilateral spastic CP. Hypothesis of this study is that progressive functional strength training protocol improves performance-related physical fitness, gross motor function, dynamic, balance, muscle tone and muscle strength in unilateral spastic CP.

Detailed Summary: Cerebral palsy (CP) describes a group of disorders in the development of movement and posture, causing activity limitations, which are attributed to non-progressive disturbances that occurred in the developing brain. It is the most common cause of movement disability in childhood. Children with CP may experience a variety of impaired muscle functions, such as spasticity, muscle weakness, and loss of selective motor control. Muscle structural changes are caused to activate of mechanisms that are limited function with growing and maturation. The weakness found in children with CP is attributable to both altered neural mechanisms and muscle tissue changes. Several factors affect the level of weakness found in the muscles of children with CP. First, weakness may differ between proximal and distal limb muscles. Stackhouse et al. found that the maximum voluntary contraction (MVC) was more impaired in the plantar flexors than the quadriceps of children with mild CP compared with controls. Second, the peak torque may vary according to the velocity of limb movement. Peak torque of the knee flexors and extensors in 24 children with CP was found to decrease with increasing velocity on an isokinetic machine. Third, peak torque may vary according to muscle length. An isokinetic study of 44 children and young people with CP found that peak torque in the hip abductors occurred when the muscle was in a lengthened position with the leg still in adduction. Fourth, the type of contraction was found to consistently affect the peak torque in both children with CP and those who are typically developing, with eccentric force being greater than concentric force in the same muscle. Although all impaired muscle functions limit the performance of daily life activities and participation in a child with CP, a recent study has shown that muscle weakness showed a stronger association with mobility limitations in children with CP than spasticity. Strength training for these children is, therefore,
Sponsor: Hacettepe University

Current Primary Outcome: muscle strength [ Time Frame: change from basaline muscle strenght of lower extremities at 12 weeks ]

8 channels Biopac® surface electromyography data acquisition and analysis systems for root mean square of maximum voluntary contraction, hand-held dynamometer "Power track II commander" for isometric muscle strength and functional squat rehabilitation system with leg press for one-maximum repetition was used to evaluate muscle strength.


Original Primary Outcome: Same as current

Current Secondary Outcome:

  • gross motor function [ Time Frame: change from basaline gross motor funciton at 12 weeks ]
    Gross motor function will be assessed using dimensions D and E of the Gross Motor Function Measurement (GMFM), which consists of standing, and walking, running, and jumping. 10-metre walking and 1-minute walking will be evaluated function.
  • muscle tone [ Time Frame: change from basaline muscle tone at 12 weeks ]
    modified Tardieu scale was used to evaluate muscle tone.
  • balance [ Time Frame: change from basaline balance at 12 week ]
    Dynamic balance was assessed with Time up & go and functional reaching test.
  • functional muscle strength [ Time Frame: change from basaline funcitonal muscle strenght at 12 weeks ]
    The 30s Repetition Maximum test was used to assess functional muscle strength of the lower extremities. The three closed kinetic chain exercises of lateral step-up test, sit to stand, and attain stand through half knee were used.
  • muscle performance [ Time Frame: change from basaline muscle performance at 12 weeks ]
    Standing Broad Jump and vertical jump was used to evaluate muscle performance.
  • power [ Time Frame: change from basaline short-term muscle power at 12 weeks ]
    Short-term muscle power was evaluated using the mean power and peak power obtained from the Muscle Power Sprint Test.
  • Agility [ Time Frame: change from basaline agility at 12 weeks ]
    Agility was measured via using the 10x5m sprint test.


Original Secondary Outcome: Same as current

Information By: Hacettepe University

Dates:
Date Received: May 28, 2015
Date Started: September 2014
Date Completion:
Last Updated: May 20, 2016
Last Verified: May 2016