The effects of progressive resistance training on daily physical activity in young people with cerebral palsy : a randomised controlled trial

Purpose: To examine if individualised resistance training increases the daily physical activity of adolescents and young adults with bilateral spastic cerebral palsy (CP). Method: Young people with bilateral spastic CP were randomly assigned to intervention or to usual care. The intervention group completed an individualised lower limb progressive resistance training programme twice a week for 12 weeks in community gymnasiums. The primary outcome was daily physical activity (number of steps, and time sitting and lying). Secondary outcomes included muscle strength measured with a one-repetition maximum (1RM) leg press and reverse leg press. Outcomes were measured at baseline, 12 weeks and 24 weeks. Results: From the 36 participants with complete data at 12 weeks, there were no between-group differences for any measure of daily physical activity. There was a likely increase in leg press strength in favour of the intervention group (mean difference 11.8 kg; 95% CI -1.4 to 25.0). No significant adverse events occurred during training. Conclusions: A short-term resistance training programme that may increase leg muscle strength was not effective in increasing daily physical activity. Other strategies are needed to address the low-daily physical activity levels of young people with bilateral spastic CP