An interventional study of Traditional strength training and Velocity-enhanced training in Cerebral Palsy, sponsored by Medical University of South Carolina. Completed at 1 site in United States. Open to participants aged 7 Years to 17 Years. Per ClinicalTrials.gov, last updated 2018-05-17.
Sponsored by Medical University of South Carolina · Not applicable, Interventional, and Treatment
Our primary aim is to determine whether and how muscle architecture of the quadriceps muscles in cerebral palsy (CP) adapts to two separate training programs: traditional strength training (ST) vs. velocity-enhanced training (VT). For the ST group, we hypothesize that muscle size will increase in conjunction with strength. For the VT group, in addition to the above, we hypothesize that fiber length will increase with measures of muscle power. We also hypothesize that walking velocity will improve in both groups but that knee motion and step length will improve only with VT.
Cerebral palsy (CP) is the most common physical disability originating in childhood, occurring in 2-3 per 1,000 live births. Although the primary deficit in CP is injury to the brain, secondary impairments affecting muscle function such as weakness, contractures, and spasticity are often far more debilitating and lead to worsening disability throughout the lifespan. Some have suggested that these muscle changes in CP may be irreversible; however, it is now known that muscles are one of the most 'plastic' tissues in the body. In fact, recent evidence suggests that gross muscle hypertrophy and architectural changes within muscle fibers can occur as early as 3-5 weeks after resistance training in healthy adults. It is also unknown how effectively muscles in CP can adapt to training stimuli that target specific muscle architectural parameters, such as fascicle length and cross-sectional area. These parameters have been observed to be decreased in CP, suggesting loss of sarcomeres in-series (fiber shortening) and in-parallel (muscle atrophy). We propose here that specific training-induced muscle architectural adaptations can occur in CP, leading to improved motor function.
750 studies on the registry are indexed under Paralysis; 133 are open to participants now.
This study's enrollment of 16 is below the median of 30 across 537 interventional studies indexed under Paralysis.
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Exclusion Criteria:
Traditional strength training
Other: Traditional strength training
Velocity-enhanced training
Other: Velocity-enhanced training
Performed 3 x week for 8 weeks on an isokinetic dynamometer (knee extension exercise)at 30 degrees/second; 6 sets of 5 maximum-effort concentric actions
Performed 3 x week for 8 weeks on an isokinetic dynamometer (knee extension exercise). Subjects will perform 2 sets of 5 concentric exertions at 30°/second. The following 4 sets of 5 repetitions will be performed at a faster speed, starting at 60° /second. The velocity will be increased weekly in 15° /second increments up to a maximum of 120°/second.
Muscle thickness
Time frame: before and after intervention
Fascicle length
Time frame: before and after intervention
Muscle strength (peak torque)
Time frame: before and after intervention
Muscle power
Time frame: before and after intervention
This study is completed, as verified in May 2018. You cannot join it, but the record below documents what was studied.
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Medical University of South Carolina