PHYSICAL ACTIVITY LEVELS ARE LOW IN ADULTS WITH SPINAL CORD INJURY
Buchholz, A. C., McGillivray, C. F., & Pencharz, P. B. (2003). Physical activity levels are low in free-living adults with chronic paraplegia. Obesity Research, 11(4), 563-570.
Research indicates that persons with spinal cord injury exhibit a high prevalence of cardiovascular disease, and are also highly susceptible to obesity, perhaps due to a lack of physical activity or physical activity opportunities.
The physical activity levels of 27 men and women with chronic paraplegia were compared to the levels recommended by the World Health Organization. 70.4% of the study participants were obese, which was associated with low levels of physical activity, especially in the group with complete spinal cord lesions.
Overall, it is recommended that persons with paraplegia increase the frequency, duration, and/or intensity of their physical activity to limit obesity and cardiovascular disease risk factors by improving mobility and functional tasks with a combination of flexibility, strength training, and aerobic fitness.
Read the complete abstract at http://www.ncpad.org/128/1359/Physical~activity~levels~are~low~in~free-living~adults~with~chronic~paraplegia~.
FUNCTIONAL STRENGTH TRAINING IN CEREBRAL PALSY
Blundell, S. W., Shephard, R. B., Dean, C. M., and Adams, R. D. (2003). Functional strength training in cerebral palsy: A pilot study of a group circuit training class for children aged 4-8 years. Clinical Rehabilitation, 17, 48-57.
Cerebral palsy impairs motor performance by reducing muscle strength and motor control. Training programs aimed at improving strength, endurance, and overall physical fitness have gained increasing popularity among people with cerebral palsy. The purpose of this study was to test a lower-limb exercise program on the motor function of children with cerebral palsy in a group training class.
Study participants were comprised of eight children between 4 and 8 years old. Their training program was 4 weeks long, with training sessions of 1 hour per day. The goal of the sessions was to maximize functional improvement with exercises that were similar to daily tasks.
Results of the study showed improvement in muscle strength and functional ability tests. The functional strength training utilized in the study mimicked tasks the children encounter in daily activities. The repetitive practice of weight-bearing exercises increased isometric strength while focusing on essential motor skills. The children were able to walk at a higher velocity with larger steps and a quicker cadence, walk a farther distance, and rise out of a lower chair unaided. The results emphasize the importance of the specificity of training to improve performance on functional motor skills and utilizing a training method that is enjoyable to encourage participation and adherence. Read the complete abstract at http://www.ncpad.org/127/1028/Functional~strength~training~in~cerebral~palsy~~A~pilot~study
~of~a~group~circuit~training~class~for~children~aged~4-8~
years~.