Title: The Development of a Functional Electrical Stimulation Assisted Cycling
Intervention to Increase Fitness and Strength in Children with Cerebral Palsy - A
Pilot Study
Abstract:
Cerebral Palsy (CP) is a non-progressive disorder that results from a lesion in the fetal or
infant brain. This insult, although varied in etiology, results in motor impairments in the
developing child. Individuals with cerebral palsy have muscle weakness and abnormally
high muscle spasticity in the affected extremities, which results in fine and gross motor
developmental delays. They often have difficulty isolating their muscles, which results in
coactivation of agonist and antagonist muscle groups. The spasticity that is present in the
muscles of children with CP can cause abnormal forces at the joints, which can lead to
bony deformity, joint instability and muscle contractures as the child grows. The
weakness that affects these muscles results in balance impairments and a lack of selective
motor control. These impairments lead to decreased independence with functional
mobility and a lack of physical activity in children with CP. Traditional means of
exercise, such as running, jumping and playing organized sports may be difficult for
individuals with functional impairments.
Stationary cycling has been proposed as a potential method of exercise for individuals
that lack the balance, strength and coordination necessary to participate in upright
exercise. The coactivation and weakness in the lower extremity muscles of individuals
with CP can lead to difficulty with volitional cycling. They are often unable to exercise
at the levels necessary to achieve cardiovascular benefits. FES cycling technology has
been successful in improving fitness, bone density and muscle mass in individuals with
spinal cord injuries (SCI). This project proposes to apply the technology used in FES
cycling in individuals with SCI to assist children with CP in their cycling ability and to
allow them to improve their cardiovascular fitness. The goal is to increase the cadence
and power levels achieved during cycling so that these individuals can reach the heart
rate thresholds necessary to gain a cardiovascular benefit from exercise.