Effect of Pilates exercises on balance and gross motor coordination in children with Down syndrome.

OBJECTIVE: To investigate the effect of Pilates exercises on balance and gross motor coordination in children with Down syndrome (DS). METHODS: Forty children with DS, aged 8 up to 10 years, were randomly divided into two groups; experimental and control groups. A designed physical therapy program was applied for both groups, while the experimental group received an additional Pilates exercise program. Balance and gross motor coordination as primary outcomes and quality of life (QoL) as secondary outcome were assessed using Biodex balance system (BBS), Bruininks Oseretsky of Motor Proficiency (BOT-2), and Pediatric quality of life inventory (PedsQL™) sequentially. RESULTS: Both experimental (Pilates) and control groups demonstrated significant improvements in dynamic balance, gross motor coordination, and QoL after interventions. However, comparison between groups showed significant improvement in favor of the Pilates group in all measured outcomes (P < 0.0001). CONCLUSION: Adding Pilates exercises to the designed physical therapy program could provide more significant improvements in balance, gross motor coordination, and QoL in children with DS. TRIAL REGISTRATION: Clinical Trial gov number Identifier: NCT05928949.

Effect of core stabilization versus rebound therapy on balance in children with cerebral palsy.

OBJECTIVE: This study aimed to compare the effect of core stabilization exercises and rebound therapy on balance in children with hemiplegic cerebral palsy (CP). METHODS: Fifty- two children of spastic hemiplegic CP aged 5 up to 8 years from both genders were assigned randomly into two groups: core stability and rebound therapy groups. Both groups received 3 sessions/week, 1.5-h training per session, for 12 successive weeks. The measurement was performed at baseline and post-treatment. Balance as a primary outcome for this study was measured by a Biodex Balance System (BBS), and knee extensor strength and functional capacity as secondary outcomes were assessed using a hand-held dynamometer, and a six-minute walk test (6MWT), respectively. RESULTS: All variables showed a significant improvement after intervention in each group (p < 0.0001), with significant improvement in all stability indices (overall, anteroposterior, and mediolateral) in core stability group when compared to rebound therapy group. CONCLUSION: Core stability exercises and rebound therapy are recommended in the rehabilitation of children with hemiplegic CP. Core stability exercises were more effective than rebound therapy for balance improvement. TRIAL REGISTRATION NUMBER: NCT05739396.

Synergistic effect of functional strength training and cognitive intervention on gross motor function in children with cerebral palsy.

BACKGROUND: Cerebral palsy (CP) is a posture and movement disorder, however; it often includes disturbance of different aspects of cognitive function. This study aimed to investigate if combined functional strength training (FST) and cognitive intervention are more effective than either of them alone on gross motor function in children with spastic diplegic CP. METHODS: Sixty-four children with spastic diplegic CP, with ages ranging from 8 to 12 years, were assigned randomly into four treatment groups; Group I; FST, group II; cognitive training, group III; combined FST and cognitive training, group IV; conventional physical therapy. The Gross Motor Function Measure (GMFM-88) was used to assess gross motor function at baseline, post-treatment, and 6 months follow-up. RESULTS: Group III achieved a significant improvement in GMFM-88 when compared to other groups post-treatment and at follow-up. CONCLUSION: This study suggests that combined lower limb FST and cognitive intervention had the potential to produce significantly more favorable effects than the single use of either of them on gross motor function in children with spastic diplegia.

Relationship of cognitive functions and gross motor abilities in children with spastic diplegic cerebral palsy.

Spastic diplegic cerebral palsy can be accompanied by a myriad of symptoms affecting other body systems including cognitive dysfunction. The purpose of this study was to determine whether a relationship exists between cognitive functions in the form of selective attention and figural memory domains with standing and walking motor abilities in children with diplegic cerebral palsy. The research design was a correlational study. Tasks assessing cognitive function and gross motor abilities were carried out with a sample of 50 children. The data demonstrated the presence of correlation between selective attention and figural memory domains of cognitive function with standing, walking running, and jumping subscales of the Gross Motor Function Measure (GMFM) scale at different ages, and this correlation was significant between selective attention domain and gross motor abilities. The outcome measurements of the current study provide original evidence based on the necessity of including cognitive and physical impairments in the examination and evaluation of children with diplegic cerebral palsy in research and clinical settings.