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Efficacy of home-based virtual cycling training on bone mineral density in ambulatory children with cerebral palsy

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Abstract

Summary

The 12-week home-based virtual cycling training (hVCT) improved lower limb muscle strength and areal bone mineral density (aBMD) than the control program in children with cerebral palsy (CP). A muscle strengthening program, rather than general physical activity, is more specific in enhancing aBMD for these children. A novel hVCT is an effective and efficient strategy that enhances lower limb bone density in these children.

Introduction

This is the first study to assess the efficacy of a novel hVCT program on bone density for children with spastic CP using a well-designed randomized controlled trial.

Methods

Twenty-seven ambulatory children with spastic CP, aged 6–12 years, were randomly assigned to the hVCT group (n = 13) or control group (n = 14). Outcome measures—motor function [Gross Motor Function Measure-66 (GMFM-66)], muscle strength (curl up scores and isokinetic torque of knee extensor and flexor muscle) and aBMD of the lumbar and distal femur—were administered before and immediately after the 12-week intervention.

Results

Analysis of covariance results show that the hVCT group had greater distal femur aBMD and isokinetic torques of knee extensor and flexor muscles than the control group at posttreatment (p < 0.05). However, curl up scores, GMFM-66, and lumbar aBMD at posttreatment did not differ between the two groups.

Conclusions

Analytical findings suggest that the muscle strengthening program is more specific in enhancing bone density for children with CP than general physical activity. Thus, the proposed 12-week hVCT protocol is an effective and efficient strategy for improving lower limb aBMD in these children.

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Acknowledgments

The authors would like to thank the National Science Council, Taiwan, for financially supporting this research under contract nos. NSC 93-2314-B-182A-201 and 96-2314-B-182A-044-MY2. Ted Knoy is appreciated for his editorial assistance.

Conflicts of interest

None.

Author information

Authors and Affiliations

  1. Physical Medicine and Rehabilitation, Chang Gung Memorial hospital, Linkou, 5 Fu-Hsing St. Kwei-Shan, Tao-Yuan, 333, Taiwan

    C.-L. Chen & C.-Y. Chung

  2. Graduate Institute of Early Intervention, College of Medicine, Chang Gung University, 259 Wen-Hwa 1st Rd, Kwei-Shan, Tao-Yuan, 333, Taiwan

    C.-L. Chen

  3. Department of Physical Medicine and Rehabilitation, Chang Gung Memorial Hospital, Keelung, 222 Maijin Rd, Keelung, 204, Taiwan

    C.-Y. Chen

  4. School of Medicine, College of Medicine, Chang Gung University, 259 Wen-Hwa 1st Rd, Kwei-Shan, Tao-Yuan, 333, Taiwan

    C.-Y. Chen, M.-Y. Liaw & C.-Y. Chung

  5. Department of Physical Medicine and Rehabilitation, Kaohsiung Chang Gung Memorial Hospital, 123, Ta-Bei Rd., Niao-sung, Kaohsiung, Taiwan

    M.-Y. Liaw

  6. Department of Radiology, Chang Gung Memorial Hospital, Linkou, 5 Fu-Hsing St. Kwei-Shan, Tao-Yuan, 333, Taiwan

    C.-J. Wang

  7. Department of Sports Medicine, China Medical University, 91 Hsueh-Shih Road, Taichung, 40402, Taiwan

    W.-H. Hong

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  1. C.-L. Chen
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Correspondence to W.-H. Hong.

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Chen, CL., Chen, CY., Liaw, MY. et al. Efficacy of home-based virtual cycling training on bone mineral density in ambulatory children with cerebral palsy. Osteoporos Int 24, 1399–1406 (2013). https://doi.org/10.1007/s00198-012-2137-0

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s00198-012-2137-0

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