Tele-Rehabilitation Home Exercise Program for Ambulatory Adults With Cerebral Palsy

A Tele-Rehabilitation Home Exercise Program to Promote Fitness and Functional Mobility in Ambulatory Adults With Cerebral Palsy: A Feasibility Study

This study aims to determine if a tele-rehabilitation home exercise program is feasible to promote adherence to a fitness and mobility exercise program in ambulatory adults with cerebral palsy (GMFCS I, II, III) aged 21- 60 year old, and second, to determine if a tele-health exercise program improves fitness and functional mobility for participants.

Cerebral palsy (CP) is a non-progressive neurologic condition caused by a brain lesion(s) that occurs in the prenatal, perinatal or early postnatal period. Ambulatory adults with CP are at risk for gait deterioration and increased sedentary lifestyles due to their diagnosis, associated conditions and the impact of aging. Adults with CP often have limited access to physical therapy (PT) and community-based programs to sustain ambulation, reduce pain, prevent falls risk and increase fitness and physical activity. This Tele-Rehabilitation Home Exercise Program (TRHExP) is a prospective cohort study

Participants in this feasibility study will engage in 150 minutes of exercise per week (30 min/day for 5 days/week) for 8 weeks and will have weekly virtual Exercise Coaching sessions with a trained project team member.

Inclusion Criteria:

• Primary diagnosis: Spastic Cerebral Palsy (unilateral or bilateral)
• Gross Motor Function Classification System (GMFCS) Level I to III
• No orthopedic surgery in past year
• No Botox in past 3 months
• Able to follow directions & attend for 20-30 minutes
• Able to stand independently up to 1 minutes with or without an assistive device
• Able to walk independently up to 2 minutes with or without an assistive device
• Must have a laptop, tablet or smart phone to do the program

Exclusion Criteria:

• Visual, cognitive or attentional deficit that makes it too difficult to participate
• No technology to participate in Zoom tele-rehabilitation sessions
• Medical contraindications to participate in an Exercise Program (e.g., uncontrolled hypertension, diabetes, syncope, uncontrolled seizures)