Cardiorespiratory fitness, balance and walking improvements in an adolescent with cerebral palsy (GMFCS II) and autism after motor-assisted elliptical training

Authors

Guilherme Manna Cesar, Madonna Rehabilitation HospitalsFollow
Thad W. Buster, Madonna Rehabilitation HospitalsFollow
Judith M. Burnfield, Madonna Rehabilitation Hospitals & University of Nebraska-LincolnFollow

ORCID IDs

Guilherme M. Cesar https://orcid.org/0000-0002-5596-9439

Thad W. Buster http://orcid.org/0000-0001-7454-1748

Judith M. Burnfield https://orcid.org/0000-0001-6184-5179

Document Type

Article

Date of this Version

2020

Citation

Published in European Journal of Physiotherapy 2020, vol. 22, no. 3, pp. 124–132.

doi:10.1080/21679169.2018.1536764

Comments

Copyright © 2018 Informa UK Limited, trading as Taylor & Francis Group. Used by permission.

Abstract

Purpose: To quantify the impact of motor-assisted elliptical (ICARE) training on cardiorespiratory fitness, balance and walking function of an adolescent with walking limitations due to cerebral palsy.

Materials and methods: A thirteen-year-old boy with hemiplegic cerebral palsy (Gross Motor Function Classification System II) and autism participated. Peak oxygen consumption (peak VO₂, primary outcome measure), oxygen cost of walking, Pediatric Balance Scale (PBS), modified Timed Up and Go (mTUG), 2-Minute Walk Test (2MWT), and gait characteristics (speed, cadence, step length, single support time) were assessed prior to and after completion of 24 sessions of moderate- to vigorous- intensity ICARE training. The goal was to engage the participant in 3 weekly sessions for 8 weeks with progressively challenging training parameters (speed, time overriding the motor’s assistance, step length).

Results: From pre- to post-intervention, improvements were detected for peak VO₂ (27.2 vs. 40.2 ml/ kg/min), oxygen cost (0.24 vs. 0.17 ml/kg/m at 1.52 m/s), PBS (47 vs. 55), mTUG (8.5 vs. 7.1 seconds), 2MWT (76.8 vs. 128.3 meters). Though not all displayed clinically significant changes, self-selected and fast walking speeds improved.

Conclusions: Fitness, balance and walking improvements were achieved by an adolescent with cerebral palsy and autism after participating in a moderate- to vigorous-intensity exercise.