ORIGINAL PAPER
Effect of task-oriented exercise training program on the functional performance of children with cerebral palsy
 
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1
Department of Physiotherapy, Faculty of Allied Health Sciences, Bayero University, Kano, Nigeria
 
2
Department of Physiotherapy, College of Medicine, University of Ibadan, Ibadan, Nigeria
 
 
Submission date: 2020-01-19
 
 
Acceptance date: 2020-06-03
 
 
Publication date: 2021-08-21
 
 
Physiother Quart. 2021;29(3):40-48
 
KEYWORDS
TOPICS
ABSTRACT
Introduction:
To evaluate the effects of task-oriented exercise training program (TOET) on the functional performance (mobility and walking efficiency) of children with cerebral palsy (CP).

Methods:
Overall, 46 children with CP were recruited from outpatient units of the physiotherapy clinics of Aminu Kano Teaching Hospital, Murtala Mohammed Specialist Hospital, and a school for children with disabilities. They were randomly assigned to the TOET group (n = 23) and the control group (CG) (n = 23). Children in CG practised conventional physiotherapy. Each group trained twice weekly for 12 weeks. Mobility and walking efficiency were assessed with a mobility questionnaire and 10-meter walk test, respectively, at baseline, after 6th and 12th weeks, and after 6 weeks of follow-up. Data were analysed with repeated measures ANOVA, t-test, Mann-Whitney U test, and Friedman’s test, with α < 0.05.

Results:
A total of 39 children with CP completed the study, 19 in CG and 20 in TOET group. The between-group scores of mobility (TOET: 69.15 ± 17.32; CG: 67.03 ± 10.49) and walking efficiency (TOET: 0.63 ± 0.2 m/s; CG: 0.63 ± 0.19 m/s) were not different at baseline and at the 6th week (p > 0.05). At the 12th week, there were significant between-group differences in mobility (TOET: 86.16 ± 7.20; CG: 71.09 ± 13.58) and walking efficiency (TOET: 1.00 ± 0.29 m/s; CG: 0.78 ± 0.28 m/s) (p < 0.05). The within-group scores of walking efficiency and mobility increased in both TOET and CG (p < 0.005 for both comparisons).

Conclusions:
TOET is an effective intervention to improve functional performance of children with CP.

 
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