Objective
To analyze how Pilates exercises affect standing, walking, and balance in children with diplegic cerebral palsy throughout a 10-week program.
Methods
We included 40 children aged 7–9 years with diplegic cerebral palsy, and randomly allocated them into two groups of the same size: conventional therapy group (group A) and conventional therapy+Pilates group (group B). We administered the same conventional physical therapy program to both groups for 45 minutes, with group B receiving additional Pilates exercises for 45 minutes. Both groups attended the intervention program three times/week for 10 weeks. We used the Growth Motor Function Measure Scale (GMFM-88) to evaluate standing and walking (Dimensions D and E), and the Pediatric Balance Scale to evaluate balance function before and after treatment.
Results
Comparison of the average values of all measured variables before and after therapy showed a statistically significant difference (p<0.05) between the two groups. All measured variables showed a significant difference between groups A and B, in favor of group B (p<0.05).
Conclusion
Pilates exercise in addition to conventional therapy is more effective in improving balance and gross motor function in children with diplegic cerebral palsy than the conventional therapy alone.

Citations

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• Lower Limb Training Threshold Dose and Motor Learning Strategy Reporting in Children With Cerebral Palsy
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• Effectiveness of physical activity counseling and PILATES exercises in women with prediabetes and type 2 diabetes: a randomized controlled trial
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• Virtual Reality Rehabilitation Helps to Improve Postural Balance in Children with Autism Spectrum Disorder: A Randomized Control Trial
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  Hatice Adıgüzel, Bülent Elbasan
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Objective: To evaluate the changes of kinematic gait patterns at long-term follow up study after selective posterior rhizotomy (SPR) in children with spastic diplegic cerebral palsy.

Method: Eighteen children with spastic diplegic cerebral palsy participated in this study. Gait patterns on sagittal plane were studied before and at average 3.5 years after SPR. Kinematic and temporospatial data were obtained by the VICON 370 system.

Results: The spasticity of hip adductor and ankle plantarflexor were improved significantly after SPR. The maximal angle of pelvic tilt, ankle dorsiflexion angle at initial contact, peak ankle dorsiflexion angle during stance phase, at toe-off and during swing phase, mid-range point of flexion-extension motion on ankle were significantly improved after SPR. The temporospatial data tended to improve after SPR at long-term follow up.

Conclusion: The SPR reduced spasticity and the gait patterns were improved in children with spastic diplegic cerebral palsy at long-term follow up. (J Korean Acad Rehab Med 2003; 27: 855-861)