Original Research Article
Year: 2016 | Month: July-September | Volume: 1 | Issue: 3 | Pages: 1-7
Effect of Strength Training on Upper Extremity Function in Children with Hemiparesis
Sara Samir Mohamed Ali1, Faten Hassan Abdel Azim2, Mohammed Abdel Moneim El Sobky3
1Physiotherapist at Saudi German Hospital Cairo, Egypt .
2Professor of Disorders of Growth and Development in Paediatrics and Its Surgery, Faculty of Physical Therapy, Cairo University, Egypt.
3Professor of Orthopaedics, Paediatric Hospitals, Cairo University, Egypt. Fellow of the Institute of Orthopaedics, London University. Fellow of the British Orthopaedic Association,Member of European Paediatric Orthopaedic Society.
Corresponding Author: Sara Samir Mohamed Ali
ABSTRACT
Objectives: this study aimed to evaluate the effect of upper extremity progressive strengthening exercises on upper extremity function of hemiparetic children. Design: Randomized clinical trial. Subjects: Thirty children (17 boys and 13 girls) with hemiparetic cerebral palsy whose age ranged from four to six years participated in this study. They were classified randomly into two groups of equal number; control group (fifteen children: ten boys, five girls) who received a designed physical therapy program directed towards improving gait pattern and study group (fifteen children: seven boys, eight girls) who received the same designed physical therapy program given to the control group in addition to the designed progressive strengthening program for the affected upper limb.
Materials and Methods: Isometric strength of the affected upper extremity using Lafayette hand held dynamometer and QUEST (quality of upper extremity skills test) were measured from both control and study groups before and after ten weeks of treatment.
Statistics: Paired T test within the same group and unpaired T test between different groups were conducted to analyse collected data before and after 10 weeks of treatment. In order to identify differences between the two groups, a Mann-Whitney test was conducted on the changed amount to identify the difference between the two groups.
Results: A significant improvement was recorded in the measured variables in the study group when comparing their pre and post treatment mean values.
Conclusion: From the obtained results of this study, it could be concluded that progressive strengthening program is beneficial to improve upper extremity function in hemiparetic cerebral palsied children.
Key words: Strengthening exercises, Hand function, Cerebral palsy, Hemiparetic, Children.