Abstract:

Objective To systematically review the evidences of impact of exercise rehabilitation and adapted physical activity on psychomotor skills, motor abilities, and motor development in children with spastic cerebral palsy (CP).
Methods Relevant literature was retrieved from PubMed, Embase, Web of Science and CNKI, from January, 2010 to June, 2023. The contents were coded using International Classification of Diseases, Eleventh Revision, and International Classification of Functioning, Disability and Health; and evidences were analyzed with theoretical framework and code of ICD-11 and ICF.
Results A total of nine articles were included, from Denmark, South Korea, Australia, Saudi Arabia, Ghana, India and Japan, published from 2015 to 2022. The intervention programs primarily involved exercise rehabilitation (including physical therapy) and adapted physical activity. Exercise rehabilitation included upper limb strength training, lower limb strength training, balance and coordination training, gait training, functional aerobic exercise, stretching and flexibility exercises, flexibility training, muscle relaxation techniques; ten to 50 minutes a time, two to six times a week,with the intensity of low to high, for six to 20 weeks. Adapted physical activities mainly involved adapted running training, virtual games; 60 minutes a time, two to four times a week, with the intensity of medium to high, for six to twelve weeks. Interventions primarily took place in medical and rehabilitation institutions, schools, and home-based communities, with professionals including occupational physical therapists, university researchers, community health personnel and teachers. The outcomes were mainly reflected in four aspects: psychomotor skills, motor abilities, motor development, and quality of life and well-being. In terms of psychomotor skills, adolescents with CP mastered running techniques and knowledge, and enhanced their response to balance threats. In terms of motor abilities, adolescents with CP showed an increase in muscle strength, enhanced muscle endurance, and an expansion of muscle tone; improvements in gait functionality, walking ability, and gait symmetry; increases in walking endurance; improvements in standing function; and improvements in dynamic balance; as well as enhanced control over balance posture. In terms of motor development, there was a significant improvement in activities of daily living, participation levels in school and leisure activities during free time, and an expanded range of motion. In terms of quality of life and well-being, adolescents with CP showed significant enhancements in self-confidence and self-esteem, significant relief from (spastic) pain, and improvements in social well-being and acceptance.
Conclusion This systematic review has synthesized the evidences of benefits of exercise rehabilitation and adapted physical activity on the psychomotor skills, motor abilities and motor development of children and adolescents with spastic CP. In terms of psychomotor skills, exercise rehabilitation and adapted physical activity help to improve the cognitive and motor skills of adolescents with spastic CP. In terms of motor abilities, exercise rehabilitation and adapted physical activity can improve muscle-related functions, gait and walking abilities, as well as balance and coordination. In terms of motor development, exercise rehabilitation and adapted physical activity significantly enhance activities of daily living and the level of participation in leisure physical activities. Finally, exercise rehabilitation and adapted physical activity can increase energy and motivation, alleviate pain, and enhance social well-being and acceptance.

Key words: spastic cerebral palsy, exercise rehabilitation, adapted physical activity, psychomotor function, motor function, motor development