Mechanical and Morphological Changes of the Plantar Flexor Musculotendinous Unit in Children with Unilateral Cerebral Palsy Following 12 Weeks of Plyometric Exercise
A Randomized Controlled Trial
Bibliographic Data
| ID | 15716698 |
|---|---|
| Authors | Ragab K Elnaggar (0000-0001-5080-702X, Prince Sattam Bin Abdulaziz University, corresponding author), Mohammed S Alghamdi (0000-0002-4811-3632, Umm al-Qura University), Aqeel M Alenazi (0000-0002-2641-8339, Prince Sattam Bin Abdulaziz University), Mshari Alghadier (0000-0003-3686-8074, Prince Sattam Bin Abdulaziz University), Mustafa Z Mahmoud (0000-0003-2552-9165, Prince Sattam Bin Abdulaziz University), Abbas Elbakry A Elsayed (Prince Sattam Bin Abdulaziz University), Ismail Abdelfattah M Hassan (Shaikh Khalifa Medical City), Asmaa A Abonour (Cairo University) |
| Year | 2022 |
| Volume | 9 |
| Issue | 11 |
| Pages | 1604-1604 |
| Publication date | 2022-10-22 |
| Peer Reviewed | Yes |
| Open Access | Yes |
| Type | ARTICLE |
| Venue | Children (JOURNAL) |
| Journal identifiers | ISSN: 2227-9067 • E-ISSN: 2227-9067 |
| Publisher | Multidisciplinary Digital Publishing Institute (PUBLISHER • CH) |
| DOI | 10.3390/children9111604 |
| PMID | 36360332 |
| OpenAlex | W4307263736 |
| Language | EN |
| Citations received | 1 |
| References cited | 42 |
To investigate how plyometric exercise (PLYO-Ex) affects mechanics and morphometrics of the plantar flexor musculotendinous unit in children with unilateral cerebral palsy, 38 participants (aged 10-16 years) were allocated at random to either the PLYO-Ex group ( n = 19; received 24 sessions of plyometric muscle loading, conducted 2 times a week for 3 months in succession) or the control group ( n = 19; underwent traditional physical therapy for the same frequency and duration). Measurements were taken pre- and post-intervention. Standard ultrasound imaging was applied to evaluate morphometrics of the gastrocnemius muscle and Achilles tendon unit and an isokinetic dynamometer was used to evaluate maximum voluntary isometric plantar flexors contraction (IVC max ). With controlling for pre-treatment values, significant post-treatment changes favoring the PLYO-Ex group were observed for morphological (tendon ( p = 0.003, η 2 p = 0.23) length; belly length ( p = 0.001, η 2 p = 0.27); tendon thickness ( p = 0.035, η 2 p = 0.35); muscle thickness ( p = 0.013, η 2 p = 0.17); fascicle length ( p = 0.009, η 2 p = 0.18); pennation angle ( p = 0.015, η 2 p = 0.16)) and mechanical and material properties (IVC max ( p = 0.009, η 2 p = 0.18); tendon's elongation ( p = 0.012, η 2 p = 0.17), stiffness ( p = 0.027, η 2 p = 0.13); stress ( p = 0.006, η 2 p = 0.20); strain ( p = 0.004, η 2 p = 0.21)). In conclusion, plyometric exercise induces significant adaptations within the musculotendinous unit of the plantar flexors in children with unilateral cerebral palsy. These adaptations could improve muscular efficiency and consequently optimize physical/functional performance
Cerebral palsy · Isometric exercise · Physical medicine and rehabilitation · Physical therapy · Spasticity · Tendinopathy · Tendon · Botulinum Toxin and Related Neurological Disorders · Cerebral Palsy and Movement Disorders · Medicine · Nerve Injury and Rehabilitation · Anatomy · Orthodontics
| Unique citing works | 1 |
|---|---|
| Citations per year | 1 |
| Citation span | 2025 - 2025 (1) |
| Citation velocity | recent |
| Highly cited | No |
| Citation types | Neutral: 1 |