Affiliations: Department of Medical Rehabilitation Sciences, College
of Applied Medical Sciences, Guraiger, Abha, Kingdom of Saudi Arabia
Note: [] Correspondence: Dr. Jaya Shanker Tedla, Department of Medical
Rehabilitation Sciences, College of Applied Medical Sciences, Room number
C/3/108, King Khalid University, P.O. Box 3665, Guraiger, Abha, 61481, Kingdom
of Saudi Arabia. Tel.: +966 538901083; E-mail: shankar_tedla@yahoo.co.in
Abstract: The purpose of this study was to evaluate the effect of trunk and
lower extremity strength-training exercises on muscle strength, balance and
motor function in 5 to 14 yr old subjects with spastic diplegia cerebral palsy.
In this randomized controlled trial 60 subjects with spastic diplegia were
randomly allocated either to the experimental group or to the control group.
The experimental group received strength-training in a circuit of workstations
with principles of progressive resisted exercises. For the control group only
conventional physical therapy treatment was provided. Outcome measures were
strength, balance and motor function. Paired t test was used to evaluate the
differences before and after the interventions for strength, balance (pediatric
balance scale), and function (gross motor functional measure). The Mann-Whitney
U test was used to evaluate the effects between the experimental and the
control groups due to intervention in strength, balance (pediatric balance
scale), and function (gross motor functional measure). Outcome measures
improved in both the groups due to intervention, but the improvements in the
experimental group were better than the control group. We conclude that 6 wk of
strength-training of the trunk and the lower extremity muscles along with
conventional physiotherapy, or conventional physiotherapy alone is effective in
improving overall strength, balance and function of the subjects with spastic
diplegia studied. But strength-training is found to be of greater benefit than
conventional physical therapy.
Keywords: Cerebral palsy, spastic diplegia, strength training, balance, motor function
