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Immediate effect of maximal treadmill walking on muscle fatigue and postural stability in children with cerebral palsy

Abstract

Aim

Postural instability and muscle fatigue are from elementary causes of deteriorations in children with cerebral palsy (CP). The aim of this study was to investigate the immediate effect of maximal treadmill walking on muscle fatigue and postural stability in children with hemiplegic CP.

Patients and methods

Thirty (17 boys and 13 girls) children with hemiplegic CP of both sexes, aged from 5 to 11years, participatedin this study. Muscle fatigue and postural stability were assessed for every child by using isokinetic dynamometer and pediatric reaching test, respectively, before and after maximal treadmill walking at two separated sessions.

Results

The results showed that there were no significant differences in fatigue index (P=0.33 and 0.1), peak torque of quadriceps and hamstring muscles (P=0.52 and 0.14), and anterior and lateral reaching tests of postural stability (P=0.46 and 0.63) before and after maximal treadmill walking.

Conclusion

Maximal treadmill walking does not cause muscle fatigue or postural instability in children with hemiplegic CP.

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Correspondence to Walaa A. Abd El-Nabie PhD.

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Abd El-Nabie, W., Attia, M. Immediate effect of maximal treadmill walking on muscle fatigue and postural stability in children with cerebral palsy. Bull Fac Phys Ther 24, 79–84 (2019). https://doi.org/10.4103/bfpt.bfpt_26_18

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