The relationship between the physical cost index and knee extensor strength in children with hemiplegic cerebral palsy.
Kenji Takaki, Yasuaki Kusumoto
PMID 29133972WHAT IT FOUND
In children with hemiplegic cerebral palsy, stronger knee extensors were linked to less heart rate rise during walking.
This suggests knee strength may relate to walking effort, but the study did not test whether strengthening helps.
Key findings
01Greater maximum knee extensor strength was significantly associated with lower PCI in both the affected and unaffected legs.
02Maximum knee extensor strength was significantly lower in the affected leg (59.5 ± 24.7 Nm) than in the unaffected leg (70.0 ± 31.6 Nm).
03The mean PCI for the group was 0.45 ± 0.12 beats/m.
STILL TO COME
How it was doneWhat they foundWhat it means for PTs
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What it does not show
Only 10 children were studied, so the finding is preliminary. The study was cross-sectional, so it cannot show that strength caused lower PCI. Children attending a first visit or with poor physical fitness were excluded, so results may not apply to all children with hemiplegic CP. Stress during testing may have affected heart rate and PCI. Only children with hemiplegic CP were included, so the association may not apply to other types of CP.
Declared interests
A research grant from the Tokyo Metropolitan Physical Therapy Association supported the study. The authors declared no conflicts of interest.
The easy way to misread this
Do not conclude that strengthening knee extensors will improve walking energy efficiency. This study measured an association in children with hemiplegic CP and did not test a treatment.