Determination Of Physical Fitness Level In Children With Hemiparetic And Diparetic Cerebral Palsy

Purpose: This study was planned to determine the physical fitness level of children with hemiparetic and diparetic cerebral palsy (CP) and to compare with healthy peers.Methods: Twenty hemiparetic, 20 diparetic (CP) and 22 healthy peers aged 5 and 12 years, a total of 62 subjects, were included in the study. Six-minute walk test, muscle strength and endurance measurements, flexibility tests, speed tests, 10x5 m agility test, and forward functional reach test were used to assess physical fitness level.Results: The results of the upper abdominal muscles strength and the sit and reach test from the physical fitness tests were similar between children with (CP) and healthy subjects (p>0.05). It was determined that there was a significant difference among the groups in the flexibility of the back extension (p<0.001), the 10x5 m agility test (p<0.001). The results of muscular endurance tests and speed tests were better in the healthy group (p<0.05), and there was no difference between hemiparetic and diparetic groups (p>0.05).Conclusion: Results from the study showed that the level of physical fitness was more impaired in subjects with diparetic CP. The level of physical fitness in children with CP was lower than their healthy peers'. The findings of the study could be used as a reference to define the requirements of rehabilitation practice aimed to increase the physical fitness level in children with CP.