STRENGTH TRAINING WITH RESISTANCE IN VIRTUAL ENVIRONMENT (STRIVE) FOR A CHILD WITH CEREBRAL PALSY

Strength training with resistance is commonly used in children with cerebral palsy (CP); however, poor compliance is a concern due to boredom. An innovative intervention, Strength Training with Resistance in a Virtual Environment (STRIVE), is created to promote function and strength in children with CP. The purpose of this study is to determine the effectiveness of STRIVE on upper extremity function in a child with CP. The participant is a 6-year-old male with quadriplegic CP, right side more affected. He has classified as level III in Gross Motor Function Classification System, and as a level III right (R) and II left (L) in the Manual Ability Classification System. The participant engaged in 1-hour sessions of STRIVE 3 times a week for 8 weeks. Sony EyeToy was used as the virtual reality system. Four UE functional strength assessments using body weight exercises were taken every 2 weeks throughout the study. Pre and post evaluation were completed by a blinded physical therapist. Improvements in muscle strength using hand dynamometry, Peabody Developmental Motor Scale (PDMS) score, and Pediatric Motor Activity Log (PMAL) score were observed. Researchers also anecdotally noted increased R arm use, improved ability to independently control the game, and ability to play at increased difficulty during intervention sessions. Participant verbally reported enjoyment of the intervention. Strength and functional improvements are noted following 8 weeks of STRIVE. Our findings suggest that STRIVE may be an appropriate intervention to improve UE strength and function in children with CP.