ABSTRACT
Objective@#To analyze how Pilates exercises affect standing, walking, and balance in children with diplegic cerebral palsy throughout a 10-week program. @*Methods@#We included 40 children aged 7–9 years with diplegic cerebral palsy, and randomly allocated them into two groups of the same size: conventional therapy group (group A) and conventional therapy+Pilates group (group B). We administered the same conventional physical therapy program to both groups for 45 minutes, with group B receiving additional Pilates exercises for 45 minutes. Both groups attended the intervention program three times/week for 10 weeks. We used the Growth Motor Function Measure Scale (GMFM-88) to evaluate standing and walking (Dimensions D and E), and the Pediatric Balance Scale to evaluate balance function before and after treatment. @*Results@#Comparison of the average values of all measured variables before and after therapy showed a statistically significant difference (p<0.05) between the two groups. All measured variables showed a significant difference between groups A and B, in favor of group B (p<0.05). @*Conclusion@#Pilates exercise in addition to conventional therapy is more effective in improving balance and gross motor function in children with diplegic cerebral palsy than the conventional therapy alone.
ABSTRACT
Children with hemophilia are at risk for reduced bone mineral density [BMD], muscle strength and functional ability as a result of reduced leisure-time activity and less involvement in intense activities. So, the purpose of this study was to investigate the effect of resistance and aerobic exercise program on BMD, muscle strength and functional ability in children with hemophilia. Thirty boys with hemophilia A ranging in age from 10 to 14 years had participated in this study. They were assigned randomly into two equal groups [control and study groups]. Control group received a designed physical therapy program and aerobic exercise in the form of treadmill training, while the study group received the same program as the control group in addition to resistance training program in the form of bicycle ergometer training and weight resistance. Both groups received treatment sessions three times per week for three successive months. BMD, muscle strength of knee flexors and extensors and functional ability were evaluated before and after the 3 months of treatment program. There was no significant difference between both groups in the pre-treatment mean values of all measured variables. Significant improvement was observed in BMD, knee extensors and flexors strength, and functional ability in the study group when comparing pre and post treatment measurements. There was a significant improvement in functional ability of the control group. Significant difference was also observed between both groups when comparing the post treatment measurements in favor of the study group. Based on obtained data, it can be concluded that, resistance and aerobic exercise training program is effective in increasing BMD, muscle strength and functional ability in children with hemophilia