뇌성마비 아동의 활동 중심으로한 하지 근력 강화 운동 효과

The Effect of Activity-Focused Lower Extremity Strength ening Exercise in Children with Cerebral Palsy

Objective: The purpose of this study was to examine the effects of activity-focused strengthening in the lower extremity in children with cerebral palsy. Method: The study participants were sixteen children with Gross Motor Function Classification System (GMFCS) Levels Ⅰ, Ⅱ, and Ⅲ for cerebral palsy undergoing training at ‘P priviate center.’ They undertook training once daily for 50 minutes, two days per week, for 8 weeks. Gross Motor Functional Measure 88 (GMFM-88) was used for function measurements, and the onset time of lower extremity muscle contracture was determined by electromyography (EMG). The onset times of contracture of the rectus femoris, biceps femoris, tibialis anterior and soleus were determined during a sit-to-stand exercise. Results: All GMFCS level Ⅰ, Ⅱ, and Ⅲ children showed significant improvement in GMFM-88 Items C, D, and E after the experiment. GMFCS level Ⅱ children showed onset times of muscle contracture comparable to those of typical children. Conclusion: Activity-focused strengthening training in the low extremity can improve GMFM-88 scores in GMFCS level Ⅰ, Ⅱ, and Ⅲ children with cerebral palsy and the onset time of muscle contracture in GMFCS level Ⅱchildren