WHOLE BODY VIBRATION VERSUS FUNCTIONAL STRENGTH TRAINING ON BALANCE IN CHILDREN WITH HEMIPARETIC CEREBRAL PALSY: A RANDOMIZED CLINICAL TRIAL

Abstract

Amany I. Sabra*, Abdelaziz Ali Sherief, Osama A El-Agamy and Sara Y. Elsebahy

Background: Hemiparetic cerebral-palsy (CP) is a condition characterized by muscle weakness or paralysis on one side of the body.

Purpose: To compare the short- and immediate effects of functional-strength-training (FST) and Whole-bodyvibration (WBV) on children with hemiparetic cerebral palsy's balance

Methods: This Randomized Clinical Trial included Thirty-children split into two groups. Group A (n= 15) had Received 25-minute whole body vibration training session at a frequency of 20 to 30 Hz and an amplitude of 2 mm. Group B (n= 15) underwent gait training and functional strength training for 30-minutes.

Results: There was a noteworthy variation in both groups' gross motor function measure and biodex balancing system performance after treatment compared to pretreatment (P < 0.01). The Gross motor function measure of both groups demonstrated a significant difference (P < 0.01) between pretreatment and posttreatment in favor of group A. Similarly, the performance of the biodex balance system of both groups demonstrated a substantial variation (P < 0.01) pretreatment and posttreatment in favor of group A.

Conclusion: During a brief training period, whole body vibration has the potential to be more beneficial than functional strength workouts for improving the balance and gross motor functioning of children with hemiparetic CP.