Ipsilateral versus contralateral static endurance- balance abilities among healthy college students

Objectives

This study sought to determine the association and the difference, if any, between the levels of the contralateral and between the levels of the ipsilateral sides during static endurance-balance exercise.

Methods

One hundred twelve healthy active- college students (55 females and 57 males) participated in this cross-sectional study. Each participant performed the contralateral (raising one arm and opposite-side leg) quadruped bird dog exercise and balanced in static condition. Side bridge exercise was performed from lying on your side then engaging your core muscles and lifting your upper body and hips off the ground, maintaining a straight line and holding this position as long as tolerated.

Results

Wilcoxon signed rank test showed significant difference (p = 0.004) between the contralateral right and left quadruped bird dog but insignificant difference (p = 0.059) between the ipsilateral right and left side bridge endurance-balance exercises. Mann-Whitney U test showed that the holding time was significant across gender for the contralateral but was insignificant for the ipsilateral endurance-balance exercise. Mann-Whitney U test was insignificant (p > 0.05) between those being recreationally active or inactive. Kruskal-Wallis test revealed insignificant difference between body mass index categories. Spearman's rho correlation coefficient showed strong positive correlation equals 0.85 and 0.75 (p < 0.001) of the contralateral quadruped bird dog and the ipsilateral side bridge exercises respectively.

Conclusions

A significant difference was observed for contralateral, while no significant difference was found for ipsilateral endurance-balance abilities. Therefore, clinicians and rehab specialist should consider these findings when assessing the endurance-balance abilities to properly devise appropriate exercise progression of different trunk stabilizers.

Effect of the Dynamic Orthotic Garment on Postural Control, and Endurance in Children with Spastic Diplegic Cerebral Palsy: A Randomized Controlled Trial

Purpose

To investigate the effect of dynamic orthotic garments (Thera togs) on foot pressure distribution, postural control, and endurance in children with spastic diplegic CP.

Patients and Methods

This is a single-blind randomized controlled clinical trial involving 34 (8-10 years) with spastic diplegic CP. The control group received conventional physical therapy (CPT), whereas the study group received CPT in addition to wearing TheraTogs. We recorded foot pressure distribution, trunk control measurement scale, trunk position sense, Pediatric Berg Balance Scale (PBS), and six-minute walking distance (6MWD).

Results

Both groups showed improvement. The study group had significant improvement in foot pressure distribution (p-value 0.003, 0.001, <0.001 for forefoot, midfoot, and rearfoot mean pressures respectively, and 0.005, <0.001, and 0.005 for forefoot, midfoot, and rearfoot peak pressures respectively), Pediatric balance scale, The trunk control measurement scale, and Trunk position sense (p-value < 0.001) and six-minute walking distance (p-value 0.029). Our data suggest that adding TheraTogs to conventional physiotherapy improves foot pressure, postural control, and endurance in children with spastic diplegic cerebral palsy.

Conclusion

Both TheraTogs and conventional physical therapy corrected foot pressure distribution, trunk control, improved balance, and increased 6MWD in children with spastic diplegic CP but the improvement was more significant in TheraTogs group.

Clinical Trial Registration

NCT05271149.