Background

Cerebral palsy (CP) is a group of disorders affecting body movement and muscle coordination caused by damage to one or more areas of the brain, usually occurring during fetal development or infancy [1]. It is the most common cause of long-term childhood disability, affecting 2.1 per 1000 live births [2].

Respiratory problems in children with CP are always related to reduced chest wall mobility and insufficient respiratory muscle strength which results in ineffective alveolar ventilation, poor airway clearance, and shortness of breath. These factors lead to repeated hospital admission due to increased risk of developing atelectasis, pneumonia, or chronic respiratory failure [3,4,5].

Although CP is not itself a respiratory disease, application of interventions that improve respiratory health is one of the most important factors in promoting the quality of life for these children and their families. Also, it minimizes the health care costs associated with CP [6].

Respiratory therapy is a group of techniques designed to enhance functional residual capacity and provide greater alveolar stability. It may be applied with or without mechanical devices [7]. It includes the removal of excess bronchial secretions and maintaining and improving exercise capacity. Physical therapy can support ventilation by using high-flow nasal cannulas, continuous positive airway pressure or noninvasive ventilation, and postural education. Also, it prevents, corrects, and improves postural problems, such as kyphosis where poor posture leads to tightening of the respiratory muscles and chest wall deformity and augments the decline in pulmonary functions [8].

Respiratory muscle strengthening has shown a significant association with indicators of health fitness (heart and respiratory rates) and daily functional ability in children with CP [9]. Previous study had reported that feedback respiratory training (FRT) can improve respiratory function, endurance for exercise capacity, sense of dyspnea, and quality of life [10]. Interventions based on therapeutic exercises have been shown a positive effect on social life, self-esteem, depression, and self-confidence in terms of involvement in physical activities [11].

Current evidence regarding management of children with CP who are at risk of developing respiratory disease is very limited [12].The purpose of this study was to systematically review the quality of evidence regarding the effectiveness of respiratory therapy on pulmonary functions in children with CP.

Methods

Two reviewers performed an electronic search up to December 2019. The following databases were searched to identify relevant published studies: the Cochrane Library, Physiotherapy Evidence Database (PEDro), PubMed, and Google Scholar. Those databases were searched by using the following keywords: “Cerebral palsy”, “Respiratory therapy”, “respiratory muscle training”, and “incentive spirometer”, “chest physiotherapy”, “breathing exercises”, “pulmonary functions”. All articles that were considered potentially eligible were obtained in full text, and additional screening of reference lists of the eligible studies was also performed.

Eligibility criteria

Studies were considered eligible if they satisfied the following criteria:

  • Participants: children with different types of CP of both sex aged up to 18 years old.

  • Study design: only randomized controlled trials (RCT).

  • Type of intervention: respiratory therapy in form of incentive spirometry, respiratory exercises (breathing exercises, diaphragmatic breathing, thoracic expansion exercises), respiratory muscle training (using pressure threshold-loading device and training apparatus with different valves), and exercise training programs (task-specific movement exercise and aquatic exercise).

  • Outcomes: pulmonary functions including vital capacity (VC), forced vital capacity (FVC), forced expiratory volume at 1 s (FEV1), expiratory reserve volume (ERV), peak expiratory flow (PEF), forced expiratory flow (FEF), tidal volume (TV), and inspiratory reserve volume (IRV).

  • Language: full-text papers in English.

Exclusion criteria

  • Unpublished studies

  • Study design other than RCT such as review papers, case reports, observational studies, and conference proceedings

  • Studies that measured outcomes not related to the scope of our study such as cardiovascular parameters, anaerobic threshold, and use of antibiotic therapy

Data extraction

Two authors used the data extraction form developed by the American Academy for Cerebral Palsy and Developmental Medicine (AACPDM) [13] to extract data which include the following items: (a) the author and year of publication; (b) information on the population, describing numbers of included children by diagnosis, and age; (c) study design; (d) methodology, including the type of intervention or assessment, technique of its application, and its duration; (e) measured outcomes; and (f) results. The AACPDM’s ratings of evidence and study quality for group design studies have acceptable inter-rater reliability and convergent validity when compared with a similar tool [14].

Assessment of methodological quality

Methodological quality in the current systematic review was evaluated by using the AACPDM rating system of quality assessment [13] and the PEDro scale. PEDro is a valid measurement of methodological quality of clinical trials [15]. The internal validity of the included studies was assessed through PEDro scale criteria of adequate randomization; allocation concealment; blinding of participants, therapists, and research personnel; incomplete outcome data; baseline similarity; and use of intention to treat analysis. The items are scored as present (1) or absent (0). Two reviewers independently assessed the methodological quality of included studies, and discrepancies between them were resolved by consultation with the third author to reach the final decision. After each item was classified as “present” or “absent,” the total score of each study was calculated as the sum of “present” responses. Scores range from 0 to 10 with higher scores indicating a better methodological quality of the RCT. The quality of the individual study would be judged as excellent (score 9–10), good (score 6–8), fair (score 4–5), and poor (score < 3) [16].

While the AACPDM conduct questions consist of clear eligibility criteria, reliable outcome measures, blinding assessors, power calculations, and controlling other sources of bias (such as insufficient follow-up, unclear type of random sequence generation or allocation concealment, lack of intention to treat). Each question should be answered “yes” (criterion/criteria present) or “no” (criterion/criteria not present). For group studies, the quality of the individual study would be judged as strong (“yes” score on 6–7 of the questions), moderate (score 4 or 5), or weak (score < 3).

Level of evidence

The level of evidence of all included studies was scored according to the modified Sackett scale [17] (Table 1). This five-level scale was used to determine the strength of evidence regarding the intervention.

Table 1 Modified Sackett scale
Full size table

Data analysis

Data were summarized statistically if two or more published studies were comparable in terms of intervention, patient demographics, outcome measures, and adequate quality. The data were pooled for meta-analysis using Review Manager (RevMan–version 5.4). The variables used in the meta-analysis were VC, PEF, FEV1, FEV1/FVC, and FVC. We expressed pooled continuous measures as the mean difference (MD) with 95% CI. We explored and quantified between-study statistical heterogeneity using the I2 test. By default, we used the fixed effect model in all analyses. If heterogeneity was statistically significant (p < 0.05) or I2 was > 50%, we used random-effects model instead.

Results

Literature search

The search strategy revealed 2189 articles from previously mentioned databases, as follows: Cochrane Library (130), PEDro (23), PubMed (79), and Google scholar (1957). Duplicated articles were 1239. The reviewers screened titles and abstracts of the remaining 950 articles independently. Seventy articles were filtered on the basis of full-text; sixty-two were excluded because they were outside the scope, because the children’s diagnosis was not CP, or outcome of interest was absent, as shown in the Preferred Reporting Items for Systematic Reviews and Meta-Analyses flow chart (PRISMA) (Fig. 1) [18]. The remaining 8 studies formed the basis for the current systematic review.

Fig. 1
figure 1

PRISMA (Preferred Reporting Items for Systematic Reviews and Meta-Analyses) flowchart

Full size image

Characteristics of the studies

There was some homogeneity among included studies regarding general characteristics of participants, outcome measures, and assessment methods (Table 2). So these studies underwent meta-analysis.

Table 2 Participant, diagnosis, intervention, comparators, duration, outcome measures, results
Full size table

Characteristics of participants

Two hundred thirty-five children ranged from 5 to 15 years of age were diagnosed with diplegic [19,20,21,22, 24], hemiplegic [20,21,22, 24], quadriplegic [20, 22, 26], and triplegic [22] CP of different levels of severity. Two studies did not specify CP type [23, 25].

Intervention

All studies examined the effect of different types of respiratory therapy (breathing exercises [19], aquatic activities [20], feedback respiratory muscle training [21], incentive spirometer [22], upper extremity resistance exercise [23], inspiratory muscle training at 30% MIP [24], task-specific movement exercise with loaded resistance [25], and respiratory exercises [26]).

Comparators

Six studies applied conventional physical therapy in the form of neurodevelopmental technique [19,20,21,22,23, 26]. One study used inspiratory muscle training at 5% MIP and home program [24]. Other study applied ROM and stretching exercises [25]

Types of outcome measured

Pulmonary functions measured are VC [19,20,21], FVC [21,22,23,24,25,26], FEV1 [19, 21,22,23,24,25,26], PEF [21,22,23,24,25,26], FEV1/FVC ratio [22, 26], FEF [24], ERV, TV, and IRV [21].

Measurement of pulmonary functions

All studies used spirometer for measuring pulmonary functions.

Level of methodological quality

The score of each study on the PEDro scale is presented in Table 3. The mean score of the 8 studies was 6.5. One study obtained a score of 9 [24] which represents “excellent” quality, two studies had a score of 8 [21, 25], and three studies scored 6 [19, 20, 23] which represent “good” quality. One study was given a score of 5 [22], and one study was given score of 4 [26] which represent “fair” quality.

Table 3 PEDro scale
Full size table

The score of each study on the AACPDM conduct questions is also presented in Table 4. The mean score of the 8 studies was 4.75. One study obtained a score of 6 [24] which represents “strong” quality. Five studies had a score of 5 [20,21,22, 25, 26], and one study obtained a score of 4 [23] which represent “moderate” quality, and one study obtained a score of 3 [19] which represents “weak” quality.

Table 4 AACPDM methodological quality and level of evidence
Full size table

Level of evidence

According to the modified Sackett scale, six studies [19,20,21, 23,24,25] were ranked on level one, and two studies were on level two [22, 26] as presented in Table 4.

Descriptive synthesis of the risk of bias

Most studies had participants allocated randomly, had groups of similar baselines, reported results of between-group statistical comparisons, provided measures of variability for at least one outcome, and specified the eligibility criteria. Only two studies [21, 24] had concealed allocation and blinded assessors; three studies [21, 24, 25] had blinded participant, two of them [24, 25] had blinded therapist.

Meta-analysis

We performed a meta-analysis for five variables: VC (Fig. 2), PEF (Fig. 3), FEV1 (Fig. 4), FEV1/FVC ratio (Fig. 5), and FVC (Fig. 6).

Fig. 2
figure 2

Forest plot comparison between study and control groups regarding outcome: VC

Full size image
Fig. 3
figure 3

Forest plot comparison between study and control groups regarding outcome: PEF

Full size image
Fig. 4
figure 4

Forest plot comparison between study and control groups regarding outcome: FEV1

Full size image
Fig. 5
figure 5

Forest plot comparison between study and control groups regarding outcome: FEV1/FVC ratio

Full size image
Fig. 6
figure 6

Forest plot comparison between study and control groups regarding outcome: FVC

Full size image

Measures of treatment effects

The outcome variables of interest were continuous outcomes. Data of change scores of post-intervention measures were evaluated and entered as means and standard deviations (SDs), and the mean difference (MD) with 95% confidence intervals (CIs) for each trial was calculated. Data were pooled through calculation of the overall MD and 95% CI.

Vital capacity

Data for meta-analysis could be extracted from three studies [19,20,21]. As reflected from Fig. 2, the total number of children included into meta-analysis was 37 in study groups and 39 in control groups. The forest plot of mean difference across the three studies at 95% CI of mean difference is MD = 0.45 (95% CI of mean difference = 0.32, 0.58). Furthermore, the 95% confidence intervals of the overall effect estimate did not overlap null effect value, and it is on the right side (favors the study), so the meta-analysis level revealed a significant difference between the study groups and control groups (the overall effect p value is 0.00001).

Peak expiratory flow

Data for meta-analysis could be extracted from six studies [21,22,23,24,25,26]. As reflected from Fig. 3, the total number of children included into meta-analysis was 88 in the study groups and 87 in control groups. As indicated in Fig. 3, the forest plot of the mean difference across the six studies at 95% CI of mean difference is MD = 0.56 (95% CI of mean difference = 0.22, 0.90). Furthermore, the 95% confidence intervals of the overall effect estimate did not overlap null effect value, and it is on the right side (favors the study), so the meta-analysis level revealed a significant difference between the study groups and control groups (the overall effect p value is 0.001).

Forced expiratory volume at 1 s

Data for meta-analysis could be extracted from six studies [21,22,23,24,25,26]. As reflected from Fig. 4, the total number of children included into meta-analysis was 88 in study groups and 87 in control groups. The forest plot of the mean difference across the six studies at 95% CI of mean difference is MD = 0.32 (95% CI of mean difference = 0.14, 0.50). Furthermore, the 95% confidence intervals of the overall effect estimate did not overlap null effect value, and it is on the right side (favors the study), so the meta-analysis level revealed a significant difference between the study groups and control groups (the overall effect p value is 0.0005).

The heterogeneity tests aim to determine if there are variations among the studies. The I2 statistic is presented as a percentage and represents the total variability in the study effect measure which is due to heterogeneity. In the previous three outcomes, the I2 value is < 50%, and the test p value is > 0.05 so the studies can be considered homogenous.

FEV1/FVC ratio

Data for meta-analysis could be extracted from two studies [22, 26]. As reflected in Fig. 5, the total number of children included into meta-analysis was 40 in the study groups and 38 in the control groups. The forest plot of mean difference across both studies at 95% CI of mean difference is MD = 7.77 (95% CI of mean difference = − 6.57, 22.12). Furthermore, the 95% confidence intervals of the overall effect estimate overlap null effect value, so the meta-analysis level revealed a non-significant difference between the study groups and control groups (the overall effect p value is 0.29). The heterogeneity tests aim to determine if there are variations among both studies. The I2 statistic (I2 = 80%, P = 0.03, random-effects model) is presented as a percentage and represents the total variability in the studies’ effect measure which is due to heterogeneity. The I2 value is > 50%, and the test p value is < 0.05 which represents high heterogeneity among both studies.

Forced vital capacity

Data for meta-analysis could be extracted from six studies [21,22,23,24,25,26]. As reflected from Fig. 6, the total number of children included into meta-analysis was 88 in study groups and 87 in control groups. The forest plot of the mean difference across the six studies at 95% CI of mean difference is MD = 0.39 (95% CI of mean difference = 0.02, 0.77). Furthermore, the 95% confidence intervals of the overall effect estimate touches the null effect value, and it is on the right side (favors the study), so the meta-analysis level revealed a non-significant difference between the study groups and control groups (the overall effect p value is 0.04).

The I2 value of the heterogeneity tests of the previous two outcomes is > 50%, and the test p value is < 0.05 which represents moderate heterogeneity among the studies.

Discussion

Best practice in rehabilitation requires adequate evidence before an intervention can be considered appropriate in a patient population. The current systematic review aimed to assess the quality and strength of evidence in studies by using systematic methods for searching and evaluating best available studies on the benefit of respiratory therapy for children with CP, based on clinically relevant outcomes including pulmonary functions. Respiration is an important physiologic component for maintaining vital function and performing physical activity in daily life [27]. Respiratory muscle strength in children with CP is positively correlated with the activities of daily living, self-care, and social function [9].

Respiratory therapy included in this systematic review was divided into: three studies of Lee et al. [21], Keles et al. [24], and Kanna and Balabaskar [26] applied respiratory muscle training, one study of Rothman [19] applied breathing exercises, one study of Choi et al. [22] performed incentive spirometer exercise, and three studies of Hutzler et al. [20], Shin and Kim [23], and Kwon and Kim [25] applied exercise training programs. The number of sessions ranged from 10 to 30 sessions in frequency, and session time ranged from 30 to 45 min. The optimal level of intensity in intervention programs for CP is still being debated [28].

At this stage it is unclear from the scientific evidence what intensity, duration, or timing of respiratory training is best. The weekly frequency analysis of intervention programs used in the studies could not be used to establish a consensus. The data obtained from included studies suggest that in general, a weekly frequency of training greater than or equal to 4 days per week results in significantly improved pulmonary functions. This frequency intervention can be classified as intensive because it is greater than three times per week. Only two studies showed improvements in pulmonary functions with a training frequency less than four. Thus, this finding is in agreement with Tsorlakis et al. [29] who found that therapeutic intervention programs with intensive training achieve significantly higher motor gains than non-intensive training.

A meta-analysis was conducted on all included studies regarding the effect of respiratory therapy on VC, PEF, FEV1, FEV1/FVC ratio, and FVC. It revealed significant difference between experimental and control groups in VC, PEF, and FEV1, and non-significant difference in FEV1/FVC ratio and FVC after respiratory training.

Significant improvement in pulmonary functions (VC, FEV1, PEF) revealed in meta-analysis may be related to increased respiratory muscle strength from training [9]. Previous studies [30, 31] reported that the increase in VC of the spastic CP children can be attributed to the better control of breathing through elimination of the abnormal breathing patterns and strengthening of the respiratory muscles. It is possible that the respiratory training is important to counterbalance the natural decline of pulmonary functions in these patients. Rothman [19] recommended performing breathing exercises to children with CP in order to improve the breathing capacity and decrease the frequency of lung infections. Kim et al. [10] reported that values of pulmonary functions increased after the performance of repetitive actual work using a feedback respiratory training (FRT) device by stroke patients. The increment of FVC was 0.4 L, FEV1 was 0.3 L, and inspiratory reserve volume was 0.2 L. They concluded that feedback respiratory training had a positive effect on the pulmonary function of stroke patients.

Chin and Kim [23] and Keles et al. [24] reported non-significant improvement in pulmonary functions in children with CP who participated in upper extremity resistance training and inspiratory muscle training respectively. These results may be explained by different patient populations or may be caused by different methods of enhancing activity during training interventions and protocols.

Most of included studies had children at gross motor function classification system (GMFCS) levels I–III. According to previous study by Kwon and Lee [32], the children at GMFCS level III had a higher gain in FVC after FRT than the children at GMFCS level I or II. They suggested that children at GMFCS level I or II may have already reached the upper level of their respiratory function capacity so their improvement was not significant after FRT. The normal values of FVC and FEV1 vary depending on different factors such as height, weight, and sex. In addition, the responses of respiratory training on pulmonary function in children with CP may differ between unilateral and bilateral CP. Further studies are needed to determine the best candidates for respiratory training.

Most studies had participants allocated randomly, had groups of similar baselines, reported results of between-groups statistical comparisons, and provided measures of variability for at least one outcome. Most of the studies specified the eligibility criteria. In respiratory muscle training, double blind studies are extremely difficult to implement which could be a reason why only two studies [21, 24] had concealed allocation and blinded assessors, and three studies [21, 24, 25] had blinded participant and therapist. All of the included studies obtained at least one outcome from more than 85% of the initially allocated participants, and only three studies [19, 23, 25] carried out an intention-to-treat analysis.

Most studies were RCTs. This design enables to estimate the effect of respiratory therapy on children with CP. Randomization reduces bias and provides a comprehensive tool to examine cause–effect relationships between an intervention and outcome which is not possible with any other study design [33]. One study [21] was randomized controlled preliminary report as it had relatively small sample size so its results should be interpreted cautiously.

The limitations of this review include the small number of studies that met inclusion criteria and the variable methodology of these studies (the type, duration, and intensity of respiratory training). The long-term effects after stopping respiratory therapy was not measured; therefore, further research into the various effects should be carried out. Comparison with other respiratory therapy methods and including different outcomes may also be needed. The results of this systematic review need to be interpreted cautiously in the context of small number of available high-quality studies as the effects of respiratory training on pulmonary functions in children with CP have rarely been reported. Therefore, there is a need for further research to provide adequate evidence to inform clinical recommendations, with adequately powered studies and careful design to minimize bias.

Conclusions

Meta-analysis supported the efficacy of respiratory therapy on pulmonary functions in children with CP. This systematic review demonstrates an urgent need for well-designed studies of multiple interventions, not only for management but also prevention of respiratory disease in children with CP, using diverse outcome measures, including activities and participation.