Blood Flow Restriction Combined with Low-Load Resistance Training versus High-Load Resistance Training in Children with Cerebral Palsy | ||||
| The Egyptian Journal of Hospital Medicine | ||||
| Article 168, Volume 100, Issue 1, July 2025, Page 3717-3723 PDF (769.25 K) | ||||
| Document Type: Original Article | ||||
| DOI: 10.21608/ejhm.2025.448374 | ||||
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| Abstract | ||||
| Background: Spastic diplegia in children is characterized by bilateral lower limb (LL) spasticity and muscle weakness, leading to reduced functional mobility. Aim: This investigation aimed to compare the effects of low-load resistance training combined with blood flow restriction (LLRT-BFR) versus high-load resistance training (HLRT) on LL muscle strength and gross motor function in pediatric patients with spastic diplegic cerebral palsy (CP). Patients andmethods: Thirty clinically and radiologically confirmed cases of spastic diplegic CP (aged 8–10 yrs) were randomly allocated into two equal groups. Group A (n = 15) underwent LLRT-BFR, whereas Group B (n = 15) received HLRT. Both protocols were applied over a 6-week period. LL muscle strength was evaluated via a handheld dynamometer (HHD), while gross motor function was assessed via the Gross Motor Function Measure-88 (GMFM-88). Results: Both groups demonstrated statistically significant post-intervention gains in knee muscle strength and in the standing and walking dimensions of GMFM-88 compared to baseline (p < 0.001). However, inter-group differences were not statistically significant (p > 0.05). Conclusion: LLRT-BFR elicited strength and functional improvements comparable to those obtained with HLRT in children with spastic diplegic CP. This suggests LLRT-BFR may be a practical alternative when high-load regimens are contraindicated or poorly tolerated. | ||||
| Keywords | ||||
| Cerebral palsy; blood flow restriction; low-load resistance training; high-load resistance training; lower limb muscles strength; gross motor functions | ||||
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