Review of the Effects of Progressive Resisted Muscle Strengthening in Children with Cerebral Palsy

Abstract

A critical appraisal of the literature on the effects of progressive resisted muscle strengthening as a management strategy for children and adolescents with cerebral palsy (CP) was initiated as a group consensus project by 1 7 clinical physical therapists. Seven articles were reviewed and graded using Sackett's framework. All studies reported an improvement in the performance of individual muscles or groups of muscles after a program of resisted exercise, regardless of the type of exercise or muscle group targeted. Three studies that evaluated muscle spasticity of the antagonistic muscle groups found no deleterious effects. Only one study was classified as level 1 evidence; the remaining six studies were level 5. Caution must be used in interpreting their results because of the limitations in design rigor. The group concluded that progressive resisted exercise of isolated muscle groups increased muscle performance in clients with CP, but the relationship between strength training and functional abilities remains unclear.