Effect of Exercise and Motor Interventions on Physical Activity and Motor Outcomes of Adults with Cerebral Palsy: A Systematic Review

ABSTRACT

Purpose

Systematically review the effect of exercise and motor interventions on physical activity and motor outcomes of adults with cerebral palsy (CP).

Methods

Eight databases were searched.

Results

Twenty-five studies were included, representing 439 adults with CP. Very low to low quality evidence supports that gait training is more effective than standard care or neurodevelopmental treatment for improving gait velocity, quality of gait, and ankle stiffness; balance training is more effective than seated therapeutic activities for improving walking self-confidence and perceived change in balance; whole-body vibration is no more effective than resistance training for improving strength or gait function; and resistance training is no more effective than a person’s typical exercise program for improving strength or gait function of adults with CP. Adverse events were reported for balance training, functional training, resistance training, and whole-body vibration.

Discussion

Further research is needed that is adequately powered and uses well-controlled study designs.

KEYWORDS:

• Cerebral palsy
• exercise
• motor interventions
• physical activity
• systematic review

Disclosure statement

The authors declare no conflicts of interest.

Supplementary material

Supplemental data for this article can be accessed online at https://doi.org/10.1080/17518423.2023.2259978

Additional information

Funding

This work was supported by the National Institutes of Health (NIH) Eunice Kennedy Shriver National Institute of Child Health and Human Development (NICHD) [K12-HD055929]; Maternal and Child Health Bureau (MCHB), Children’s Hospital Los Angeles California-Leadership in Neurodevelopmental Disabilities Training Program [T78MC00008].