Walking-induced muscle fatigue impairs postural control in adolescents with unilateral spastic cerebral palsy. (June 2016)

• Record Type: Journal Article
• Authors: Vitiello, Damien; Pochon, Ludmilla; Malatesta, Davide; Girard, Olivier; Newman, Christopher J.; Degache, Francis
• Is Part Of: Research in developmental disabilities. Volume 53/54(2016:Jul.)
• Page Start: 11
• Page End: 18
• Publication Date: 2016-06
• Subjects: Hemiplegic adolescents -- Postural control -- Standing -- Muscle weakness; Developmental disabilities -- Periodicals; Developmentally disabled -- Research -- United States -- Periodicals; Developmentally disabled children -- Education -- Research -- United States -- Periodicals; Developmental Disabilities -- Periodicals; Disabled -- Periodicals; Mental Retardation -- rehabilitation -- Periodicals; Personnes atteintes de troubles du développement -- Recherche -- États-Unis -- Périodiques; Enfants atteints de troubles du développement -- Éducation -- Recherche -- États-Unis -- Périodiques; Développement, Troubles du -- Recherche -- États-Unis -- Périodiques; 616.858800
• DOI: 10.1016/j.ridd.2016.01.019
• Languages: English
• ISSNs: 0891-4222

Abstract

Highlights: Walking for 15 min significantly decreased knee extensor strength production in adolescents with CP. The postural control of adolescents with CP is negatively impaired by fatigue. A cognitive task decreased postural control performances in adolescents with CP. Abstract: Background: Fatigue is likely to be an important limiting factor in adolescents with spastic cerebral palsy (CP). Aims: To determine the effects of walking-induced fatigue on postural control adjustments in adolescents with unilateral CP and their typically developing (TD) peers. Methods: Ten adolescents with CP (14.2 ± 1.7 yr) and 10 age-, weight- and height-matched TD adolescents (14.1 ± 1.9 yr) walked for 15 min on a treadmill at their preferred walking speed. Before and after this task, voluntary strength capacity of knee extensors (MVC) and postural control were evaluated in 3 conditions: eyes open (EO), eyes closed (EC) and with dual cognitive task (EODT). Results: After walking, MVC decreased significantly in CP (−11%, P < 0.05) but not in TD. The CoP area was only significantly increased in CP (90%, 34% and 60% for EO, EC and EODT conditions, respectively). The CoP length was significantly increased in the EO condition in CP and TD (20% and 21%) and was significantly increased in the EODT condition by 18% in CP only. Conclusions: Unlike TD adolescents, treadmill walking for 15 min at their preferred speed lead to significant knee extensor strength losses and impairments in postural control in adolescents with unilateral spastic CP.