Effect on the Bone Mineral Density According to Weight-bearing Exercise in Children with Spastic Quadriplegic Cerebral Palsy: A Preliminary Study

ABSTRACT

OBJECTIVE: To evaluate the effect of weight-bearing exercise on the bone mineral density (BMD) in children with spastic quadriplegic cerebral palsy (CP). METHOD: A heterogeneous group of 18 prepubertal children with CP (age, 8.9+/-2.9 years; GMFCS level, IV and V) participated. Patients underwent a dual-energy X-ray absorptiometry scan of the lumbar spine (L1-L4) and proximal femur, and the Z scores were calculated by using data obtained from the control group who were normal children (age, 8.8+/-2.9 years). We divided the patients into 2 groups group A standing for 2 hours a day, 5 days a week; group B standing for 30 minutes a day, 1 or 2 days a week. We measured BMD after 1 year and compared it to baseline measurements. RESULTS: BMD was significantly higher on L2-L4 vertebrae, femoral neck and trochanter area after exercise in group A (p0.05). BMD according to static weight-bearing exercise for 1 year were significantly different between groups A and B on the L1, L4 vertebrae, femoral neck and trochanter area (p<0.05). CONCLUSION: This study suggests that weight-bearing exercise may be an important part of a rehabilitation protocol to maintain and improve BMD in children with spastic quadriplegic CP.