Joint and muscle-tendon mechanics in children with cerebral palsy

The present study tested the hypothesis that increasing Achilles tendon stiffness by means of resistance exercise training will increase the effectiveness of calf stretching exercises for increasing gastrocnemius muscle fascicle length in children with CP. Measurements were taken in an intervention group of children with CP (n=9; 4 weeks of calf muscle strength training followed by 6 weeks of combined calf stretching and strengthening exercises) and a control group of children with CP (n=7; 4 weeks of arm muscle strength training followed by 6 weeks of calf stretching exercises). No changes in fascicle length or tendon stiffness were observed in the control group after the 10-week exercise program. In contrast, in the intervention group resting fascicle length increased by 8% p< 0.001) and Achilles tendon stiffness increased by 50% (p=0.002). An increase in the number of sarcomeres in-series may explain the increased fascicle length post-intervention. The present study provides proof