Effects of whole-body vibration on quadriceps and hamstring muscle strength, endurance, and power in children with hemiparetic cerebral palsy: a randomized controlled study

Abstract

Hemiplegic cerebral palsy (CP) enormously affects the quadriceps and hamstring muscles. It causes weakness in the affected lower-extremity muscles in addition to muscle imbalance and inadequate power production, especially in the ankle plantar-flexor and knee extensor muscles. It also causes anomalous delayed myoelectrical action of the medial hamstring. A whole-body vibration (WBV) exercise can diminish muscle spasticity and improve walking speed, muscle strength, and gross motor function without causing unfavorable impacts in adults suffering from CP. Thus, the aim of this study is to investigate the impacts of WBV training associated with conventional physical therapy on the quadriceps and hamstring muscle strength, endurance, and power in children with hemiparetic CP. The post-intervention values of the quadriceps and hamstring muscle force, endurance, and power were significantly higher than the pre-intervention values for both groups (p = 0.001). The post-intervention values of the study group were significantly higher than the control group (quadriceps force, p = 0.015; hamstring force, p = 0.030; endurance, p = 0.025; power, p = 0.014). The 8 weeks of WBV training that was added to traditional physical therapy was more successful in improving the quadriceps and hamstring muscle strength, endurance, and power in children with hemiparetic CP when compared to traditional physical therapy alone.