EFFECTIVENESS OF FUNCTIONAL RESISTANCE TRAINING ON GAIT SPEED IN SPASTIC DIPLEGIC CEREBRAL PALSY

Gaddipati Seshanka*, Singam Siva Sankar and Christie Kiran Gotru

ABSTRACT

Background and objectives: Cerebral palsy is defined as a non-progressive insult to a developing or immature central nervous system (CNS), particularly to those areas that affect motor function. People with spastic diplegia typically walk slowly and have difficulty in performing activities such as walking up and down steps or running. People with spastic diplegia typically walk slowly and have difficulty in performing activities such as walking up and down steps or running. The purpose of this study is to find out that whether functional resistance training can improve the gait speed and if this exercise protocol is successful then it can be implemented for children with spastic diplegia. Method: 30 subjects which include both the genders and aged between 7-12 yearssatisfying all the inclusion and exclusion criteria were taken for the the study. Thesubjects were given functional resistance training for 12 weeks which includes foursupervised training sessions per week. The subjects were measured for pre and posttreatment values for the outcome scales GMFSC and 10 METER walk test. The functional resistance training will be periodised, comprising multiple sets of repetitions between 6-12. The number of sets and set structure will be progressing every four weeks and training load could be adjusted during any session. Results: The statistical analysis done for GMFSC and 10 METER walk test after functional resistance training showed significant results(p<0.0001) stating the effect on gait speed. Conclusion: The results of this experimental trial support the view that 12 weeks offunctional resistance program was effective in increasing cadence and distance walked in 10 meter walk test in children with spastic diplegia.

Keywords: Cerebral palsy, Resistance training, Gait speed, Gross motor classification, 10 meter walk test.