Background: Previous studies have highlighted the beneficial impact of trunk strength training on gross motor muscle function. Additionally, trunk strength training has been shown to enhance upper limb function and balance in children with cerebral palsy. Although numerous studies have explored dynamic and static balance for children with cerebral palsy, none have yet examined the combined application of kinetic link training (KLT) and bird dog exercise (BDE).
Objectives: To investigated the effect of cerebral Palsy on the KLT and BDE.
Design: A randomized controlled trial.
Methods: This study involved 30 children diagnosed with cerebral palsy. They were randomly allocated to two groups: 15 children in the KLT group and 15 in the bird-dog group. During the intervention, four participants dropped out, resulting in 26 subjects for the final analysis (KLT=11, Bird-dog=15). After randomizing the subjects into two groups, we allocated their general characteristics. Prior to starting the intervention, initial measurements were taken using the Romberg test for static balance and the limit of stability (LOS) test for dynamic balance. Each group participated in KLT and BDE for 30 minutes, three times a week for eight weeks, under the supervision of a therapist. Follow-up measurements of static and dynamic balance were taken at the conclusion of the eight-week period. The collected data was analyzed using the SPSS ver. 21.0 program by paired t-test and independent t-test.
Results: In the results for static balance, the within-group comparisons indicated a significant reduction in trace length, STD velocity, and velocity postintervention compared to pre-intervention for both the KLT and BDE groups, except for the C90 area (P<.05). Regarding dynamic balance, the withingroup comparisons demonstrated a significant increase in LOS in the forward direction for the BDE group from pre- to post-intervention (P<.05). Similarly, there was a significant increase in LOS in the backward direction for the KLT group from pre- to post-intervention (P<.05). The LOS in both the left and right directions showed significant increases in the BDE group from pre- to post-intervention (P<.05).
Conclusion: An eight-week intervention involving KLT and BDE exercises improved both static and dynamic balance in children with cerebral palsy.