Effect of strength training of muscles of lower limb of young children with cerebral palsy on gross motor function

Cerebral palsy has movement deviation which is attributed to abnormal motor control, restricted range of motion & insufficient force production caused by selective muscle atrophy.

Pre-test post-test control group design. Two groups of fifteen children with diplegic CP of age 2.5 to 9.5 year having GMFC score I to III were conveniently selected of which first group were given strength training and conventional therapy and other group were given conventional therapy alone. They were given thrice weekly sessions for Six weeks period with a gap of one day between two consecutive sessions. They were given bilateral heel raises in which the participant stood on the edge of the table, Activities on light weight portable steps (height 20cm), Bilateral half squat using a large inflatable ball to guide the exercise, Isolated quadriceps strengthening activities with graded weight, Isolated hip extensor strengthening activities, Data were recorded on the GMFM scale to see the changes after strengthening activity.

Data collected were analyzed through SPSS by using student t-test shows level of significance at p<0.05 for pre and post treatment within and between the groups.

Result showed an improvement in gross motor function following strength training protocol and also emphasizes the effectiveness of the strength training program in children who are developmentally at lower level in terms of mobility.