P024 The effect of a functional strength training program on balance control in children with cerebral palsy

Abstract

Summary: The effect of a 12-week functional strength-training program on balance control of children with CP was investigated. Conclusions: Despite an improvement of muscle strength, no improvement in balance control was found for the training group compared to the control group. Introduction: Children with CP experience limitations in the execution of gross motor tasks, which is mainly caused by impairments in muscle function. A prerequisite for a successful performance of gross motor tasks is the ability for balance control (1). It has been demonstrated that balance control is correlated with muscle strength (2). Therefore, strength training might improve gross motor functioning through an improved ability for balance control. In this study, which is part of a large- scale strength training study, we investigated whether a structured functional strength-training program improves balance control in children with CP. Patients/Materials and Methods: 50 children with CP (age