Effect of Blood Flow Restriction Training on Balance and Walking Speed in Children with Spastic Diplegic Cerebral Palsy: A Randomized Controlled Trial

Sudhir  Kumar; Aarti  Gupta; Saurabh  Kumar

doi:10.18502/jimc.v9i3.21835

Sudhir Kumar PeadsPlanet Child Development Center, Gurugram, India
Aarti Gupta Department of Neuro Physiotherapy, Faculty of Physiotherapy, SGT University, Gurugram, India
Saurabh Kumar Department of Neuro Physiotherapy, Faculty of Physiotherapy, SGT University, Gurugram, India

DOI: https://doi.org/10.18502/jimc.v9i3.21835

Keywords: Balance, Blood flow restriction training, Cerebral palsy, Low load resistance training, Walking speed

Abstract

Background: The neurodevelopmental condition known as cerebral palsy is characterized by a variety of motor dysfunctions, such as irregularities in posture and movement. Since these individuals are less tolerant of high-intensity exercises, a training program is required. This study aimed to assess how blood flow restriction training affected the balance and walking speed of children with spastic cerebral palsy.

Methods: This randomised controlled trial was conducted at the ‘Cogniable, the child’, Physiotherapy clinic and SGT Hospital, Gurugram, India from November 2023 to May 2024. Thirty-two children with spastic diplegic cerebral palsy who were between the ages of 8 and 15 years and met the selection criteria were included in the study and randomly assigned into two groups. Study group (n=16) received blood flow restriction training along with rehabilitation program and control group (n=16) received only rehabilitation program. The data was collected at baseline and at end of 4th week of the study. The outcome measures used were Time Up and Go test (TUG) and 6-min walk test. Data was statistically analysed by using independent t-test and paired t-test.

Results: After 4 weeks of intervention with blood flow restriction training combined with a rehabilitation program, the study group demonstrated significant improvements in both the TUG (p=0.042) and the 6-min walk test (p=0.003) compared to the control group. Within-group analysis showed significant improvements in the study group (p<0.001 for both tests) while control group revealed significant difference of p=0.001 for TUG and p<0.001 for 6-min walk test following four weeks of intervention.

Conclusion: The results indicated that adding blood flow restriction training to children with spastic cerebral palsy improves balance and walking speed.