Bone Abstracts

Adolescents with cerebral palsy (CP) have altered muscle tone and reduced bone mass, which can lead to impaired mobility and function increasing their risk for osteopenia in later life. OBJECTIVES: We evaluated the efficacy of two side-alternating vibration therapy (VT) protocols (9 minutes/day versus 15 minutes/day) over a 20-week program on mobility and bone health in adolescents with mild CP. METHODS: Sixteen participants (12.4±0.9 years; 10 males) with mild cerebral palsy were recruited for the 15 minutes/day VT protocol. Retrospective data from 33 participants (15.9±0.5 years; 22 males) that performed the 9 minutes/day VT protocol were used as comparison. Assessments included the 6-minute walk test and whole-body dual-energy X-ray absorptiometry at baseline and after 20 weeks of intervention. RESULTS: Twenty weeks of VT increased the distance walked in the six-minute walk test by 11% in the 9 minutes/day group (+45 m; P<0.001) and by 9% in the 15 minutes/day group (+40 m; P=0.003). Comparison between the adjusted change in mobility of the two training protocols showed no differences (P=0.77). Lean mass increased in both the 9 minutes/day group (P=0.001) and 15 minutes/day group (P=0.05) but percentage lean mass remained the same and there was no difference between protocols (P=0.11). Participants in the 9 minutes/day group increased total body bone mineral content and density (P<0.001 & P=0.005, respectively) while the participants in the 15 minutes/day group increased total body bone mineral content (P=0.005) after intervention. Both groups increased spine bone mineral density (P=0.005 & P=0.005 respectively). Adjusted changes in bone composition were only significantly different between protocols for spine bone mineral density, which showed a greater change with the 15 minutes/day group (P=0.036). CONCLUSION: VT was an effective intervention in increasing mobility with no detrimental impact on body composition and bone heath in adolescents with mild CP. However extending the duration of training had no effect on 20 week outcomes.

Disclosure: The authors declared no competing interests.