A case study of the effect of cardiovascular training on cerebral palsy [I] Estudo do condicionamento cardiovascular na paralisia cerebral -um estudo de caso [A] Jéssica Silva Teixeira, Luiza Mayara Lima de Jesus Santos, Nayhara Lemos dos Santos, Carla Cristine Cunha Casali, Carolina Marques Carvalho Mitre Chaves * Universidade de Itaúna (UI), Itaúna, MG, Brazil [R] Abstract Introduction: Cerebral palsy (CP) is a non-progressive disorder characterized by changes in muscle tone and voluntary movement, leading to adaptive changes in muscle length and in some cases, resulting in bone deformities and increased energy expenditure while performing activities of daily living. Objective: The aim of this study was to investigate the effects of cardiovascular training by an adult with athetoid CP. Methods: The sample was composed of one patient with athetoid CP. The instruments used were the timed ten-meter walk test; the SF-36 quality of life questionnaire, a six-minute walk test and the Timed Up and Go test. Using an exercise bike and resistance exercises for the upper limbs, the patient underwent 24 sessions lasting ifty minutes each during eight weeks. Results: In all tests, signi icant improvement was observed at four and eight weeks, especially in the irst four, and progressed in the following four weeks. In the post-training period, improvement was observed when compared to pre-training values. The SF-36 questionnaire on quality of life showed increase in some areas and decrease in others. Conclusion: Patients with CP can bene it from a physical training program, which can improve their quality of life and be included in their rehabilitation protocol. IntroductionCerebral palsy (CP) is a group of permanent postural and movement development disorders that limit activities, and are attributed to a non-progressive disorder that occurs during fetal development of the brain or childhood (1). Studies have shown the increased prospect of life of these patients when they do not present signi icant pathologies and receive appropriate medical care (2, 3).The clinical manifestations of CP most commonly observed are: changes in posture and balance (4), muscle tone (5), spasticity (6), muscle weakness (7) and low resistance to physical activity. These changes result in lack of control over movements, leading to adaptive changes of muscle length, and in some cases can result in bone deformities (8).The low resistance to physical activity observed in these individuals can be attributed to reduced oxidative capacity of the paretic muscles, overall decrease of aerobic resistance, and recruitment of motor units with increased energy expenditure during activities of daily living and sub-maximal exercise (9). The combination of these factors can lead to functional and social losses, and these patients tend to become increasingly sedentary (10).According to Batista et al. (10), patients with CP bene it from aerobic training, which should be included in rehabilitation programs. Gains in functional ability were observed in CP p...