The Effects of Eccentric Muscle Contraction Program on Walking and Balance Ability of Children with Brain Lesion Disorder

The purpose of this study was to identify the effects of eccentric muscle contraction program on walking and balance ability of children with brain Lesion disorder. Two children with brain Lesion disorder were participated in this study. The subjects are spasticity, which makes the body too tight or difficult to adjust. The numbness of the limbs or numbness of the muscles of the legs due to involuntary exercise paralysis is frequently changed, and excessive shaking occurs in addition to the intended actions. The intelligence estimated by the Intelligence Test and Visual-Motor Integration Development Test (VMI) is equivalent to Severe Mental Retardation Level (IQ / VMI: less than 35). The test was conducted for 12 weeks and the subjects had eccentric muscle contraction program for 50 minutes a day and twice a week. To assess the walking and balance ability subjects were tested on following items: Walking ability for 6 m forward walk test, 10 m forward walk test, 3 m backward walk test, stair up 4 steps and stair down 4 steps. Balance ability for single leg stand in opened eyes and closed eyes were measured. In the case of subject A and B, 6 m forward walk test was reduced by 6.2%(A), 3.2%(B) and 10 m forward walk test was reduced by 6.6%(A), 6.2%(B). 3 m backward walk test reduced by 4.2%(A), 1.3%(B) compared to the pre-test. Stair up 4 steps was reduced by 2.9%(A), 4.3%(B) and stair down 4 steps was reduced by 6.7%(A), 3.2%(B) than the pre - test. Single leg stand in opened eyes was increased by 21.6%(A), 24.6%(B) in the right foot and the left foot was increased by 20.2%(A), 35.8%(B). Single leg stand in closed eyes increased by 8.1%(A), 17.5%(B) in the right foot and the left foot was increased by 10.9%(A), 11.1%(B). Those result show that the eccentric muscle contraction exercise program had positive influence in the walking and balance ability for children with brain lesion disorder.