Effects of functional movement strength training on strength, muscle size, kinematics, and motor function in cerebral palsy: A 3-month follow-up

Issue title: TBI and Aging

Guest editors: Wayne A. Gordon

Article type: Research Article

Authors: Lee, Jung Ah^a | You, Joshua H.^{b; *} | Kim, Dong A.^c | Lee, Min Jin^a | Hwang, Pil Woo^a | Lee, Nam Gi^b | Park, Jeong Joon^c | Lee, Dong Ryul^b | Kim, Hyun-Kyung^c

Affiliations: [a] Department of Motor & Cognitive Rehabilitation, Korea National Rehabilitation Research Institute, Seoul, Republic of Korea | [b] Department of Physical Therapy, Yonsei University, Wonju City, Kangwon-do, Republic of Korea | [c] Department of Rehabilitation Medicine, National Rehabilitation Hospital, Seoul, Republic of Korea

Correspondence: [*] Address for correspondence: Joshua H. You, Professor, Department of Physical Therapy, Graduate School of Rehabilitation Science, Yonsei University, Director of Wellness, Fitness, and Prevention/Movement Impairment Solution/Sports Medicine and Movement Science, 234 Heoungup-Myon, MaeJi-Ri, Wonju City, Kangwon-do 220-710, Republic of S. Korea. Tel.: +82 33 760 2476, +82 10 4337 0604; Fax: +82 33 760 2496; E-mail: neurorehab@yonsei.ac.kr

Abstract: We investigated the long-term effects of comprehensive hand repetitive intensive strengthening training (CHRIST) on strength, morphological muscle size, kinematics, and associated motor functional changes in children with cerebral palsy (CP). Ten children (5 boys, 5 girls; age range, 6–11 years, mean age, 8.6 years) participated in the study. The children were classified according to the Manual Ability Classification System: 5 were Level II, 2 were Level III, and 3 were Level IV. Quantitative biomechanical measurements were performed to determine muscle strength, muscle size, kinematics (normalized jerk score), and motor function using a dynamometer, ultrasound, Vicon motion analysis, and standardized clinical tests (Quality of Upper Extremity Skills Test, Jebsen-Taylor Hand Function Test, Functional Independence Measure, and Pediatric Motor Activity Log), respectively. Muscle strength, muscle size, kinematics, and motor function significantly improved after a 10-week intervention (3 times a week), and the long-term effects remained even at the 3-month follow-up. In conclusion, this is the first study highlighting the long-term efficacy of upper extremity strength training using the novel CHRIST system in children with CP, which will potentially open up new horizons for effective management in pediatric neurorehabilitation.

Keywords: Cerebral palsy, CHRIST, muscle strength, upper extremity

DOI: 10.3233/NRE-130846

Journal: NeuroRehabilitation, vol. 32, no. 2, pp. 287-295, 2013