Use the Back button in your browser to see the other results of your search or to select another record.

Detailed Search Results

Accommodating variable-resistance exercise enhance weight-bearing/gait symmetry and balance capability in children with hemiparetic cerebral palsy: a parallel-group, single-blinded randomized clinical trial [with consumer summary]
Elnaggar RK, Alhowimel A, Alotaibi M, Abdrabo MS, Elshafey MA
European Journal of Physical and Rehabilitation Medicine 2022 Jun;58(3):378-86
clinical trial
7/10 [Eligibility criteria: Yes; Random allocation: Yes; Concealed allocation: Yes; Baseline comparability: Yes; Blind subjects: No; Blind therapists: No; Blind assessors: Yes; Adequate follow-up: Yes; Intention-to-treat analysis: Yes; Between-group comparisons: Yes; Point estimates and variability: No. Note: Eligibility criteria item does not contribute to total score] *This score has been confirmed*

BACKGROUND: Children with hemiparetic cerebral palsy (HCP) tend preferentially to bear their body weight on the non-paretic side, which leads to the emergence of asymmetrical walking patterns and limited ability to maintain balance. Therefore, improved and clearly effective intervention strategies to remedy these impairments are needed. AIM: This study endeavored to evaluate the efficacy of an accommodating variable-resistance exercise (AVr-Ex) program on weight-bearing symmetry, gait symmetry, and dynamic balance in children with HCP. DESIGN: This study employed a parallel-group, single-blinded randomized controlled design. SETTINGS: Physical Therapy Outpatient Clinic and University Hospital, and a tertiary referral hospital. POPULATION: Thirty-six children with HCP aged between eight and 16 years were assigned randomly to the AVr-Ex group (n = 18) or control group (n = 18). METHODS: Children in the AVr-Ex group undergone an AVr-Ex program, three sessions/week over eight consecutive weeks, besides the usual physical therapy while children in the Control group received the usual physical therapy alone. Outcome measures were evaluated before and after intervention and included weight-bearing symmetry indices (rearfoot (RF-WbSI), and forefoot (FF-WbSI)), gait symmetry indices (spatial (GSIspatial), and temporal (GSItemporal)), and dynamic balance. RESULTS: The post-treatment RF-WbSI (p < 0.001; partial-eta2 = 0.41), GSIspatial (p < 0.001; partial-eta2 = 0.42), GSItemporal (p < 0.001; partial-eta2 = 0.52), and dynamic balance variables (all p < 0.05; partial-eta2 ranged from 0.21 to 0.51) improved significantly in the AVr-Ex group compared to the control group, when controlled for the pre-treatment scores. CONCLUSIONS: This study suggests that AVr-Ex can improve weight-bearing symmetry, gait symmetry, and dynamic balance in children with HCP when incorporated into the usual physical rehabilitation program.

Full text (sometimes free) may be available at these link(s):      help