Article

AIM: To examine the relation between physical fitness and gross motor capacity in
children with cerebral palsy (CP) who were classified in Gross Motor Function
Classification System levels I or II. METHOD: In total, 68 children with CP (mean
age 12y 1mo, SD 2y 8mo; 44 males, 24 females; 45 classified as having spastic
unilateral CP, 23 as having spastic bilateral CP) participated in this study. All
participants performed a maximal aerobic exercise test (10m Shuttle Run Test), a
short-term muscle power test (Muscle Power Sprint Test), an agility test (10x5m
sprint test), and a functional muscle strength test (30s repetition maximum)
within 2 weeks. Gross motor capacity was concurrently assessed using dimensions D
(standing) and E (walking, running, and jumping) of the 88-item version of the
Gross Motor Function Measure (GMFM). RESULTS: No relation between aerobic
capacity, body mass index, and dimensions D and E of the GMFM was found. The
correlations between short-term muscle power, agility, functional muscle
strength, and dimensions D and E of the GMFM were moderate to high (r
approximately 0.6-0.7). INTERPRETATION: The relations found between short-term
muscle power, agility, functional muscle strength, and gross motor capacity
indicate the importance of these components of physical fitness, and may direct
specific interventions to maximize gross motor capacity in children and
adolescents with CP.

Langue : ANGLAIS