Effect of High-Intensity Circuit Training on Balance and Activities of Daily Living in Children with Cerebral Palsy: A Clinical Trial Study

Spastic diplegia cerebral palsy is a movement disorder originating from brain injury before, during, or immediately after birth. Exercise plays an important role in motor recovery. This study was performed to determine the effect of high-intensity circuit training on balance and activity daily living in children with cerebral palsy (CP).

In this clinical trial, 34 children with cerebral palsy were randomly divided into two groups of 17 including occupational therapy (control group) and circuit training group with occupational therapy as interventional group. Berg balance scale and activity scale for kids were used to assess changes in balance and activity of daily living before and after 12 weeks of exercise, respectively. High-intensity circuit training consisting of 3 rounds and each round consisting of 6,30-second stations and a 30-second break between stations, which were performed three times a week for 12 weeks. Occupational therapy was performed one session per week.

The rate of balance and activities of daily living and its components in the circuit training group with occupational therapy showed a significant improvement compared to control group (P<0.05).

Circuit trainings with occupational therapy can further improve the performance of balance and activity of daily living in children with Spastic diplegia cerebral palsy compared to occupational therapy.