Stretch reflex and learning in a ballet class for individuals with cerebral palsy

Abstract This study reports changes in the stretch reflex and clinical motor sores in individuals with mixed spastic and dyskinetic cerebral palsy (CP) after learning in a targeted ballet class. Four individuals (ages 7 to 22 years) completed a personalized one-hour targeted ballet class twice per week for six weeks. Quantitative measures of the elbow or ankle stretch reflex were obtained using electromyography and electrogoniometry, along with clinical assessments of spasticity and dyskinesia. The joint angle of stretch reflex onset varied for similar velocities of stretch across participants and its variability decreased after the class. Clinical measures revealed improvements in balance, selective motor control, range of motion, and upper limb function. The variability of the stretch reflex may be attributed to the dyskinetic component of the mixed CP presentations. Changes in stretch reflex and improvements in clinical scores suggest that learning through the ballet class may be beneficial to everyday function. The study was registered in the Clinical Trials Protocol Registration and Results System (NCT04237506, January 17, 2020.)