Relationship between lower limb strength and walking capacities in children with spastic bilateral cerebral palsy.

CONCLUSION: This study reports logarithmic relationship between muscle strength and walking capacities in children with BCP. The subgroup analysis implies that muscle strength has an impact on walking capacities solely in weaker children, suggesting that muscle strength must be preserved and reinforced in interventions targeting motor function in weaker children with BCP. Implications for rehabilitation In a sample of children with spastic bilateral cerebral palsy, this study shows that global muscle strength is associated with walking capacities and the relationship seems more complex than linear. Based on the results, interventions should focus on maintaining or improving muscle strength in weaker children as no association was observed between muscle strength and walking capacities in stronger children. In stronger children, intervention should focus on factors other than muscle strength as it does not influence walking capacities. Based on this study, a more accurate screening of children who could benefit from strength training could be completed by initial global muscle strength. PMID: 32905745 [PubMed - as supplied by publisher]
Source: Disability and Rehabilitation - Category: Rehabilitation Authors: Tags: Disabil Rehabil Source Type: research