Muscle Strengthening in Children with Cerebral Palsy

Abstract

Muscle strengthening as a therapeutic technique for cerebral palsy is controversial. Many therapists have been trained to avoid muscle strengthening in children with cerebral palsy because of the belief that overflow to the antagonist muscle might increase muscle tone or spasticity and therefore increase abnormal movement. Recently some clinicians have become interested in resisted exercise as a treatment for children with cerebral palsy. This review summarizes the few published studies relating to progressive resistive exercise in children and young adults with cerebral palsy. The results of these studies indicate that resistive exercise increased strength in individuals with mild cerebral palsy and none of the studies showed any deleterious effects on level of spasticity or range of motion. Some studies showing that strength measurement instruments can be reliable under certain conditions are also reviewed.

Additional information

Notes on contributors

Nancy B. Haney

Michael Lepp, PT, is in private practice, Associate Instructor of the Upledger Institute, and Clinical Instructor, Case Western Reserve University School of Dentistry, Cleveland, OH.

Marie McKenzie, MS, OTR, is in private practice. She was Coordinator of Occupational Therapy at Scottish Rite Hospital at the time of this study.

Heather Miller, MS, OTR/L, is currently employed by Madison County Educational Service Center, providing therapy services to the county's pre-schools. This research was completed in partial fulfillment of the requirements of an MS degree at Ohio State University.

Linda Viscardis, BA, is Team Leader and Community Development Worker, Peterborough Family Enrichment Centre. She is Co-Founder of P.R.O.S.P.E.C.T.S., a support and advocacy group for families who have children with special needs.

Debra Stewart, BSc, OT(C), is Occupational Therapist, Erinoak, Serving Young People with Physical Disabilities, Mississauga, ON, and Clinical Lecturer, School of Rehabilitation Science, McMaster University.

Janette McDougall, MA, was Project Coordinator

Kip Husted, BEd, was a parent representative on the study team.

Aviva Yochman, MA, OTR, was a student in the School of Occupational Therapy, Faculty of Medicine, The Hebrew University of Jerusalem, Israel at the time of this study.

Imelda Burgman, MA OTR/L BCP, completed her MA in Movement Sciences at Teachers College, Columbia University, and was an Occupational Therapist at The Shield Institute, Bronx, NY. She is currently Lecturer, Habilitation, School of Community Health, Faculty of Health Studies, Charles Sturt University, Albury, N.S.W., Australia.