Cardiorespiratory fitness, balance and walking improvements in an adolescent with cerebral palsy (GMFCS II) and autism after motor-assisted elliptical training
Document Type
Article
Publication Date
5-3-2020
Abstract
Purpose: To quantify the impact of motor-assisted elliptical (ICARE) training on cardiorespiratory fitness, balance and walking function of an adolescent with walking limitations due to cerebral palsy.
Materials and methods: A thirteen-year-old boy with hemiplegic cerebral palsy (Gross Motor Function Classification System II) and autism participated. Peak oxygen consumption (peak VO2, primary outcome measure), oxygen cost of walking, Paediatric Balance Scale (PBS), modified Timed Up and Go (mTUG), 2-Minute Walk Test (2MWT), and gait characteristics (speed, cadence, step length, single support time) were assessed prior to and after completion of 24 sessions of moderate- to vigorous-intensity ICARE training. The goal was to engage the participant in 3 weekly sessions for 8 weeks with progressively challenging training parameters (speed, time overriding the motor’s assistance, step length).
Results: From pre- to post-intervention, improvements were detected for peak VO2 (27.2 vs. 40.2 ml/kg/min), oxygen cost (0.24 vs. 0.17 ml/kg/m at 1.52 m/s), PBS (47 vs. 55), mTUG (8.5 vs. 7.1 seconds), 2MWT (76.8 vs. 128.3 metres). Though not all displayed clinically significant changes, self-selected and fast walking speeds improved.
Conclusions: Fitness, balance and walking improvements were achieved by an adolescent with cerebral palsy and autism after participating in a moderate- to vigorous-intensity exercise.
Publication Title
European Journal of Physiotherapy
Volume
22
Issue
3
First Page
124
Last Page
132
Digital Object Identifier (DOI)
10.1080/21679169.2018.1536764
Citation Information
Guilherme M. Cesar, Thad W. Buster & Judith M. Burnfield (2020) Cardiorespiratory fitness, balance and walking improvements in an adolescent with cerebral palsy (GMFCS II) and autism after motor-assisted elliptical training, European Journal of Physiotherapy, 22:3, 124-132, DOI: 10.1080/21679169.2018.1536764