COMPARISION OF DYNAMIC CYCLING VS STATIC CYCLING ON ENDURANCE, BALANCE, AND WALKING ABILITY OF CHILDREN WITH CEREBRAL PALSY

Background: The impairments in cerebral palsy can limit a child’s ability to play and exercise at intensities necessary to develop cardio respiratory fitness. Objective: To compare the effects of dynamic cycling, static cycling and conventional exercises in cardiovascular endurance, balance and walking ability in cerebral palsy children. Materials and Method: A total of 30 subjects were recruited in an experimental pre-post-test study design. Subjects were randomly assigned to 3 different treatment groups. The following outcome measures were measured: resting Heart Rate, 3 Minute Walk Test, GMFM-66, and Pediatric Balance Scale. All the three groups received conventional exercises. The experimental group 1 in addition received dynamic cycling protocol and experimental group 2 received static cycling protocol. The outcome was again evaluated at 6 weeks. Results: All the 3 groups showed significant pre to post improvement for the entire outcomes measured but GMFM-66. Results of the studied showed more significant improvement in both the cycling groups compared to the control group; Dynamic cycling group showing better response than static cycling group. Though all the groups showed improvement in GMFM-66, the dynamic cycling group showed better improvement followed by control group. Conclusion: Dynamic cycling incorporated with conventional exercises improves the cardiovascular endurance, balance and functional abilities than conventional exercises only.