Effects of task-specific movement patterns during resistance exercise on the respiratory functions and thickness of abdominal muscles of children with cerebral palsy: randomized placebo-controlled double-blinded clinical trial.
Hae-Yeon Kwon, Byeong-Jo Kim
PMID 30154603WHAT IT FOUND
Children with cerebral palsy who did task-specific movements wearing weighted vests improved breathing measures and abdominal muscle thickness more than children who did the same movements without added weight.
Both groups also improved, and the study was small.
Key findings
01Children who performed the same task-specific movement program with added weight through a weighted vest had larger changes in respiratory function than children who performed it without added weight.
02Both the weighted-vest group and the no-added-weight group had statistically significant increases in respiratory function and abdominal muscle thickness after the training period.
03Children who performed the same task-specific movement program with added weight through a weighted vest had larger changes in thickness of rectus abdominis, transverse abdominis, internal oblique, and external oblique than children who performed it without added weight.
STILL TO COME
How it was doneWhat they foundWhat it means for PTs
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What it does not show
The study included only 34 children, and the authors list the small sample size as a limitation. It included only children aged 5 to 12 years with stage II to III spastic cerebral palsy, so the authors state that results cannot be generalized to other GMFCS groups. It measured only respiratory function and abdominal muscle thickness, not gross motor function, balance, daily activities, or self-esteem. Both groups improved, so the added weight cannot be separated from the shared task-specific movement program and other supports used during the trial. The paper calls the design both quasi-experimental and randomized double-blinded controlled.
Declared interests
The authors declared no conflicts of interest.
The easy way to misread this
Do not conclude that the weighted vest alone improved breathing or abdominal muscles. Both groups did the same task-specific movement program, and both groups also improved, so the added weight was only one part of the intervention. The study was small and did not measure daily function, so greater changes in breathing measures and muscle thickness may not mean better daily abilities.