Seattle Children’s Power Training study for Children with Cerebral Palsy

27 Jan Seattle Children’s Power Training study for Children with Cerebral Palsy

Ambulatory children with cerebral palsy (CP) experience walking limitations which negatively influence their ability to physically participate in day to day life. The investigators propose that impaired muscle power generation is the key limiting factor affecting walking activity and participation. This proposal represents a combined approach where participants undergo resistance training for muscle power generation in combination with locomotor treadmill training that is based on typical pediatric walking and activity patterns rather than adult protocols, which are endurance or time-based. Therefore, the primary objective of this randomized controlled trial is to determine the effect of lower extremity Power Training combined with interval Treadmill Training (PT³) on functional walking capacity and community-based activity and participation in children with CP. We hypothesize that remediating the most pronounced muscle performance impairment (i.e., muscle power) with power training combined with a task- specific approach to walking that is developmentally appropriate will have a significant effect on walking capacity and performance.

Participant Eligibility

•You are between 10 to 17 years old
•Have bilateral spastic cerebral palsy
•Walk with or without support as a primary means of mobility

Contact

Sinear Sadang
(206) 884-1152