A1 Journal article (refereed)
Exercise intervention protocol in children and young adults with cerebral palsy : the effects of strength, flexibility and gait training on physical performance, neuromuscular mechanisms and cardiometabolic risk factors (EXECP) (2021)


Valadão, P., Piitulainen, H., Haapala, E. A., Parviainen, T., Avela, J., & Finni, T. (2021). Exercise intervention protocol in children and young adults with cerebral palsy : the effects of strength, flexibility and gait training on physical performance, neuromuscular mechanisms and cardiometabolic risk factors (EXECP). BMC Sports Science, Medicine and Rehabilitation, 13, Article 17. https://doi.org/10.1186/s13102-021-00242-y


JYU authors or editors


Publication details

All authors or editors: Valadão, Pedro; Piitulainen, Harri; Haapala, Eero A.; Parviainen, Tiina; Avela, Janne; Finni, Taija

Journal or series: BMC Sports Science, Medicine and Rehabilitation

eISSN: 2052-1847

Publication year: 2021

Publication date: 26/02/2021

Volume: 13

Article number: 17

Publisher: Springer Science and Business Media LLC

Publication country: United Kingdom

Publication language: English

DOI: https://doi.org/10.1186/s13102-021-00242-y

Publication open access: Openly available

Publication channel open access: Open Access channel

Publication is parallel published (JYX): https://jyx.jyu.fi/handle/123456789/74474

Additional information: Study protocol.


Abstract

Background
Individuals with cerebral palsy (CP) have problems in everyday tasks such as walking and climbing stairs due to a combination of neuromuscular impairments such as spasticity, muscle weakness, reduced joint flexibility and poor coordination. Development of evidence-based interventions are in pivotal role in the development of better targeted rehabilitation of CP, and thus in maintaining their motor function and wellbeing. Our aim is to investigate the efficacy of an individually tailored, multifaceted exercise intervention (EXECP) in children and young adults with CP. EXECP is composed of strength, flexibility and gait training. Furthermore, this study aims to verify the short-term retention of the adaptations three months after the end of the EXECP intervention.

Methods
Twenty-four children and young adults with spastic CP will be recruited to participate in a 9-month research project with a 3-month training intervention, consisting of two to three 90-min sessions per week. In each session, strength training for the lower limbs and trunk muscles, flexibility training for the lower limbs and inclined treadmill gait training will be performed. We will evaluate muscle strength, joint flexibility, neuromuscular and cardiometabolic parameters. A nonconcurrent multiple baseline design with two pre-tests and two post-tests all interspaced by three months is used. In addition to the CP participants, 24 typically developing age and sex-matched participants will perform the two pre-tests (i.e. no intervention) to provide normative data.

Discussion
This study has a comprehensive approach examining longitudinal effects of wide variety of variables ranging from physical activity and gross motor function to sensorimotor functions of the brain and neuromuscular and cardiometabolic parameters, providing novel information about the adaptation mechanisms in cerebral palsy. To the best of our knowledge, this is the first intervention study providing supervised combined strength, flexibility and gait training for young individuals with CP.


Keywords: cerebral palsy; rehabilitation; physical activity; strength training; functional capacity; neuromuscular activity; intervention study; research plans

Free keywords: cerebral palsy; strength; flexibility; gait; training; neuromuscular cardiometabolic


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Ministry reporting: Yes

Reporting Year: 2021

JUFO rating: 1


Last updated on 2024-22-04 at 17:50