HOME HELP FEEDBACK SUBSCRIPTIONS ARCHIVE SEARCH		QUICK SEARCH:   [advanced] Author: Keyword(s): Year:  Vol:  Page:

This Article Full Text (PDF) The Bottom Line All Versions of this Article: ptj.20060261v1 87/5/572    most recent Submit a response Alert me when this article is cited Alert me when Rapid Responses are posted Alert me if a correction is posted Services Email this article to a friend Similar articles in this journal Similar articles in PubMed Alert me to new issues of the journal Download to citation manager Citing Articles Citing Articles via HighWire Citing Articles via Google Scholar Google Scholar Articles by Johnston, T. E Articles by Lee, S. C. Search for Related Content PubMed PubMed Citation Articles by Johnston, T. E Articles by Lee, S. C. Social Bookmarking                      What's this?

Biomechanics of Submaximal Recumbent Cycling in Adolescents With and Without Cerebral Palsy

TE Johnston, PT, PhD, MBA, is Research Specialist, Shriners Hospitals for Children, 3551 N Broad St, Philadelphia, PA 19140 (USA).
AE Barr, PT, DPT, PhD, is Associated Professor, College of Health Professions, Temple University, Philadelphia, Pa.
SCK Lee, PT, PhD, is Research Assistant Professor, Department of Physical Therapy, University of Delaware, Newark, Del, and Research Associate, Shriner's Hospitals for Children.

tjohnston{at}shrinenet.org

Background and Purpose: The purpose of this study was to compare the biomechanics of recumbent cycling between adolescents with cerebral palsy (CP) classified at Gross Motor Function Classification System (GMFCS) levels III and IV and adolescents with typical development (TD).

Subjects: Twenty subjects, ages (±SD) 15.2±1.6 years (10 with TD, 10 with CP), participated.

Methods: Lower-extremity kinematics and muscle activity were measured at 30 and 60 rpm while subjects pedaled on a recumbent cycle. Energy expenditure and perceived exertion were measured during a 5-minute test, and efficiency was calculated. Noncircular data were analyzed with analyses of variance. Circular data were analyzed using circular t tests.

Results: Differences were found between groups for joint kinematics for all motions. Subjects with CP displayed earlier onsets and later offsets of muscle activity, increased co-contraction of agonist and antagonist muscles, and decreased efficiency compared with subjects with TD. There were no differences in perceived exertion.

Discussion and Conclusion: Differences in cycling biomechanics between children with CP and children with TD may be due to decreased strength and motor control in the children with CP.

CiteULike    Complore    Connotea    Del.icio.us    Digg    Reddit    Technorati    What's this?

This article has been cited by other articles:

				T. E Johnston Biomechanical Considerations for Cycling Interventions in Rehabilitation Physical Therapy, September 1, 2007; 87(9): 1243 - 1252. [Abstract] [Full Text] [PDF]