Article

OBJECTIVE: To evaluate both the short- and long-term effectiveness of a lifestyle
intervention on physical fitness in adolescents and young adults with cerebral
palsy (CP). DESIGN: Single-blind, randomized controlled trial. SETTING:
University hospitals and rehabilitation clinics. PARTICIPANTS: Adolescents and
young adults (N=57) with spastic CP classified in Gross Motor Function
Classification System levels I through IV; of these, 42 completed the study.
INTERVENTION: A 6-month lifestyle intervention consisting of physical fitness
training combined with counseling sessions focused on physical behavior and
sports participation. MAIN OUTCOME MEASURES: Physical fitness, including measures
of cardiopulmonary fitness, muscle strength, and body composition. RESULTS:
Favorable short- and medium-term effects were found for peak oxygen consumption,
oxygen consumption, and load on the anaerobic threshold and waist circumference.
Favorable long-term effects were found for sum of skinfolds, systolic blood
pressure, and total cholesterol. CONCLUSIONS: This exploratory study showed that
the lifestyle intervention was effective in improving cardiopulmonary fitness and
body composition. Effects of body composition were maintained in the long term.
However, the intervention needs to be optimized to increase muscle strength and
for long-term retention of effects on aerobic capacity.
CI - Copyright (c) 2014 American Congress of Rehabilitation Medicine. Published by
Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved.

Langue : ANGLAIS