Effect of Physical Training on School‐Children with Cerebral Palsy

Abstract

There is a shortage of data concerning the physical working capacity of young persons suffering from cerebral palsy (CP) and the degree t o which the oxygen transport capacity of the respiratory and circulatory system can be increased of the individual.Children and young persons with CP run the risk of becoming inactive as a result of their motor disturbances. This risk has been considered most serious also in nonmotor-disturbed handicapped groups, for blind patients by Mossfeldt & Sjostrand, 1960 [ll], and in chronic mentally-ill patients, by Carlsson et d., 1965 [ 5 ] , who reported a favourable development of the patients physical capacity following systematic physical training.

A systematic review of the effectiveness of aerobic exercise interventions for children with cerebral palsy: an AACPDM evidence report

“…11 Five studies compared the results of a pretest ⁄ post-test in a single group with no control using a variety of aerobic exercise programs ranging from games to bicycle ergometry. [12][13][14][15][16] The remaining studies consisted of two case studies 17,18 and three single subject design studies. [19][20][21] Tables II and III include evidence from the three out of 13 studies that received a level of evidence rating of level III or higher.…”

Aquatic exercise for children with cerebral palsy

“…They include training programs conducted in a laboratory setting 3,41,42 and in community and school-based settings. 17,26,35,43 Controlled laboratory-based cycling studies provide convincing evidence for the trainability of children with CP. 3,41,42 Authors of these studies report significant increases in maximal heart rate 41 and aerobic capacity.…”

“…3,42 Studies of land-based aerobic exercise training under less-controlled community and school-based environments describe the effects of dynamic aerobic exercise targeting large muscle groups and held two to four times a week. 17,26,35,43 In all four studies, heart rate was used to monitor exercise intensity. Reduced heart rate during submaximal exercise testing, 26 increased aerobic capacity, 35 and a decrease in oxygen consumption levels relative to workload 43 were reported after 6 weeks to 9 months of training.…”

“…Research evaluating the effects of exercise for children with CP has focused primarily on land-based exercise. 4,7,17,[23][24][25][26][27][28][29] Exercise in water may be suitable for children with CP, particularly for those with significant mobility impairments because the negative influence of poor balance, poor postural control, and excessive joint loading are reduced in water. 30,31 In this paper we briefly review the research into land-based exercise for children with CP, and then review the literature on aquatic exercise and discuss its potential as an exercise option for this group of children.…”

“…Exercise for children with CP EXERCISE VERSUS GENERAL PHYSICAL ACTIVITY One challenge of existing fitness studies involving children with CP is the lack of distinction between general physical activity and exercise. Although studies evaluating a wide variety of forms of general physical activity for children with CP exist, 3,4,7,17,23,25,26,28,[32][33][34][35] they do not all satisfy the criteria for exercise. General physical activity refers to any body movement produced by skeletal muscles that results in energy expenditure.…”