The Influence of an Adapted Exercise Program on the Development of the Gross Motor Function and Performance in Adolescents with Spastic Hemiplegia

Abstract

The purpose of this study was to evaluate the influence of an adapted exercise program on the gross motor function and gross motor performance in adolescents with spastic hemiplegia (SH) as a result of cerebral palsy (CP). Ten adolescents with SH (13 to 17 years old) participated in the study. They were randomly divided in two groups of 5 individuals, one being the experimental (Group A) and the other one the control group (Group B). Group A attended only the adapted exercise program for 12 weeks; with duration of 50 minutes for each session while group B attended only the regular school program. Pre- and post-exercise tests were performed to assess the gross motor function and performance of the adolescents with SH of both groups. The instruments for the evaluation were the Gross Motor Function Measure (GMFM) and Gross Motor Performance Measure (GMPM). The results of the study revealed that the adapted exercise program had a positive effect on the experimental group and improved both their quantitative (p<.001) and qualitative gross motor skills (p<. 001). There was no change between the initial and final measurement on the control group. Conclusively, adolescents with SH in this study are able to show improvement both in their quantitative and qualitative gross motor skills, after their participation in an adapted exercise program.