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Relation between physical fitness and gross motor capacity in children and adolescents with cerebral palsy
Author(s) -
VERSCHUREN OLAF,
KETELAAR MARJOLIJN,
GORTER JAN WILLEM,
HELDERS PAUL J M,
TAKKEN TIM
Publication year - 2009
Publication title -
developmental medicine and child neurology
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 1.658
H-Index - 143
eISSN - 1469-8749
pISSN - 0012-1622
DOI - 10.1111/j.1469-8749.2009.03301.x
Subject(s) - cerebral palsy , sprint , gross motor function classification system , gross motor skill , physical medicine and rehabilitation , physical therapy , spastic cerebral palsy , aerobic capacity , psychology , motor skill , spastic , medicine , developmental psychology
Aim To examine the relation between physical fitness and gross motor capacity in children with cerebral palsy (CP) who were classified in Gross Motor Function Classification System levels I or II. Method In total, 68 children with CP (mean age 12y 1mo, SD 2y 8mo; 44 males, 24 females; 45 classified as having spastic unilateral CP, 23 as having spastic bilateral CP) participated in this study. All participants performed a maximal aerobic exercise test (10m Shuttle Run Test), a short‐term muscle power test (Muscle Power Sprint Test), an agility test (10×5m sprint test), and a functional muscle strength test (30s repetition maximum) within 2 weeks. Gross motor capacity was concurrently assessed using dimensions D (standing) and E (walking, running, and jumping) of the 88‐item version of the Gross Motor Function Measure (GMFM). Results No relation between aerobic capacity, body mass index, and dimensions D and E of the GMFM was found. The correlations between short‐term muscle power, agility, functional muscle strength, and dimensions D and E of the GMFM were moderate to high ( r ∼0.6–0.7). Interpretation The relations found between short‐term muscle power, agility, functional muscle strength, and gross motor capacity indicate the importance of these components of physical fitness, and may direct specific interventions to maximize gross motor capacity in children and adolescents with CP.