Movement-Based Priming: A Clinical Trial on the Effect of Cross-Training on Locomotor Abilities of Children with Unilateral Cerebral Palsy
<b>Background:</b> Children with unilateral cerebral palsy (UCP) frequently experience limitations in locomotor abilities, attributable to a complex interplay of factors including muscle weakness and reduced joint mobility. Movement-based priming, such as cross-training (CT), has emerged...
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MDPI AG
2025-04-01
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| author | Tamer M. Elsaeed Ragab K. Elnaggar Mohammed F. Elbanna Mshari Alghadier Aziza M. Kamel Ahmed M. Aboeleneen Fahad A. Qissi Marwa M. Ismaeel |
| author_facet | Tamer M. Elsaeed Ragab K. Elnaggar Mohammed F. Elbanna Mshari Alghadier Aziza M. Kamel Ahmed M. Aboeleneen Fahad A. Qissi Marwa M. Ismaeel |
| author_sort | Tamer M. Elsaeed |
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| description | <b>Background:</b> Children with unilateral cerebral palsy (UCP) frequently experience limitations in locomotor abilities, attributable to a complex interplay of factors including muscle weakness and reduced joint mobility. Movement-based priming, such as cross-training (CT), has emerged as a potential intervention to enhance motor function in children with UCP. However, evidence of its efficacy remains limited. Objective: This study aimed to investigate the effect of CT—specifically, a strengthening-based unilateral priming protocol—on muscle strength, joint mobility, and locomotor abilities in children with UCP. <b>Methods:</b> Thirty-six children with UCP were enrolled in a randomized controlled trial. Participants were randomized into two groups: the control group (<i>n</i> = 18; underwent a tailored physical rehabilitation program) and the CT group (<i>n</i> = 18; participated in a CT program incorporating unilateral priming exercises targeting the less-affected lower followed by the same rehabilitation program administered to the control group). Dorsiflexor strength, ankle joint mobility, and locomotor ability assessed via the 10 m walk test (10 mWT), 6 min walk test (6 MWT), and timed up-and-go test (TUG) were evaluated pre- and post-intervention. <b>Results:</b> Significant moderate-to-large between-group differences were observed in dorsiflexor strength (<i>p</i> = 0.032, partial η<sup>2</sup> = 0.128), ankle mobility (<i>p</i> = 0.016, partial η<sup>2</sup> = 0.159), and locomotor ability (10 mWT [<i>p</i> = 0.017, partial η<sup>2</sup> = 0.157]; 6 MWT [<i>p</i> = 0.004, partial η<sup>2</sup> = 0.222]; TUG [<i>p</i> = 0.047, partial η<sup>2</sup> = 0.111]). The CT group demonstrated superior improvements concerning all outcomes. <b>Conclusions:</b> Unilateral priming through strengthening-based CT is a viable intervention for enhancing motor function in children with UCP, providing a promising complement to the current rehabilitation protocols. |
| format | Article |
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| publishDate | 2025-04-01 |
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| spelling | doaj-art-050d51a73f394f04b1a91c4e75a18a182025-08-20T02:17:25ZengMDPI AGChildren2227-90672025-04-0112450810.3390/children12040508Movement-Based Priming: A Clinical Trial on the Effect of Cross-Training on Locomotor Abilities of Children with Unilateral Cerebral PalsyTamer M. Elsaeed0Ragab K. Elnaggar1Mohammed F. Elbanna2Mshari Alghadier3Aziza M. Kamel4Ahmed M. Aboeleneen5Fahad A. Qissi6Marwa M. Ismaeel7Department of Physical Therapy for Pediatrics, Faculty of Physical Therapy, Cairo University, Giza 12611, EgyptDepartment of Health and Rehabilitation Sciences, College of Applied Medical Sciences, Prince Sattam Bin Abdulaziz University, Abdullah Ibn Amer St., Al-Kharj 11942, Saudi ArabiaDepartment of Physical Therapy, Faculty of Medical Rehabilitation Sciences, King Abdulaziz University, Jeddah 22252, Saudi ArabiaDepartment of Health and Rehabilitation Sciences, College of Applied Medical Sciences, Prince Sattam Bin Abdulaziz University, Abdullah Ibn Amer St., Al-Kharj 11942, Saudi ArabiaMedical Surgical Nursing, College of Nursing Sciences, Prince Sattam Bin Abdulaziz University, Al-Kharj 11942, Saudi ArabiaDepartment of Physical Therapy, Faculty of Medical Rehabilitation Sciences, King Abdulaziz University, Jeddah 22252, Saudi ArabiaDepartment of Health and Rehabilitation Sciences, College of Applied Medical Sciences, Prince Sattam Bin Abdulaziz University, Abdullah Ibn Amer St., Al-Kharj 11942, Saudi ArabiaDepartment of Physical Therapy for Pediatrics, Faculty of Physical Therapy, Cairo University, Giza 12611, Egypt<b>Background:</b> Children with unilateral cerebral palsy (UCP) frequently experience limitations in locomotor abilities, attributable to a complex interplay of factors including muscle weakness and reduced joint mobility. Movement-based priming, such as cross-training (CT), has emerged as a potential intervention to enhance motor function in children with UCP. However, evidence of its efficacy remains limited. Objective: This study aimed to investigate the effect of CT—specifically, a strengthening-based unilateral priming protocol—on muscle strength, joint mobility, and locomotor abilities in children with UCP. <b>Methods:</b> Thirty-six children with UCP were enrolled in a randomized controlled trial. Participants were randomized into two groups: the control group (<i>n</i> = 18; underwent a tailored physical rehabilitation program) and the CT group (<i>n</i> = 18; participated in a CT program incorporating unilateral priming exercises targeting the less-affected lower followed by the same rehabilitation program administered to the control group). Dorsiflexor strength, ankle joint mobility, and locomotor ability assessed via the 10 m walk test (10 mWT), 6 min walk test (6 MWT), and timed up-and-go test (TUG) were evaluated pre- and post-intervention. <b>Results:</b> Significant moderate-to-large between-group differences were observed in dorsiflexor strength (<i>p</i> = 0.032, partial η<sup>2</sup> = 0.128), ankle mobility (<i>p</i> = 0.016, partial η<sup>2</sup> = 0.159), and locomotor ability (10 mWT [<i>p</i> = 0.017, partial η<sup>2</sup> = 0.157]; 6 MWT [<i>p</i> = 0.004, partial η<sup>2</sup> = 0.222]; TUG [<i>p</i> = 0.047, partial η<sup>2</sup> = 0.111]). The CT group demonstrated superior improvements concerning all outcomes. <b>Conclusions:</b> Unilateral priming through strengthening-based CT is a viable intervention for enhancing motor function in children with UCP, providing a promising complement to the current rehabilitation protocols.https://www.mdpi.com/2227-9067/12/4/508cerebral palsymovement-based primingneural plasticitystrengthmobilitylocomotion |
| spellingShingle | Tamer M. Elsaeed Ragab K. Elnaggar Mohammed F. Elbanna Mshari Alghadier Aziza M. Kamel Ahmed M. Aboeleneen Fahad A. Qissi Marwa M. Ismaeel Movement-Based Priming: A Clinical Trial on the Effect of Cross-Training on Locomotor Abilities of Children with Unilateral Cerebral Palsy Children cerebral palsy movement-based priming neural plasticity strength mobility locomotion |
| title | Movement-Based Priming: A Clinical Trial on the Effect of Cross-Training on Locomotor Abilities of Children with Unilateral Cerebral Palsy |
| title_full | Movement-Based Priming: A Clinical Trial on the Effect of Cross-Training on Locomotor Abilities of Children with Unilateral Cerebral Palsy |
| title_fullStr | Movement-Based Priming: A Clinical Trial on the Effect of Cross-Training on Locomotor Abilities of Children with Unilateral Cerebral Palsy |
| title_full_unstemmed | Movement-Based Priming: A Clinical Trial on the Effect of Cross-Training on Locomotor Abilities of Children with Unilateral Cerebral Palsy |
| title_short | Movement-Based Priming: A Clinical Trial on the Effect of Cross-Training on Locomotor Abilities of Children with Unilateral Cerebral Palsy |
| title_sort | movement based priming a clinical trial on the effect of cross training on locomotor abilities of children with unilateral cerebral palsy |
| topic | cerebral palsy movement-based priming neural plasticity strength mobility locomotion |
| url | https://www.mdpi.com/2227-9067/12/4/508 |
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