Ayesha Tabassum, Farjad Afzal.
Comparative Effects of High vs Low Frequency of Static Stretching on Hamstring Flexibility in Diplegic Cerebral Palsy Children.
J Riphah Coll Rehab Sci Jan ;8(1):41-6.

Background: Cerebral Palsy the movement disorder due to brain injury results in muscles spasticity as well. Spasticity is well managed by stretching exercises. This study was a pre-post analysis of the effects of high frequency over sustained hamstring stretching of low frequency and how it decreases popliteal angle in diplegic cerebral palsy children. Objectives: To analyze high frequency effects of static sustained stretching over low frequency on flexibility of hamstring muscle in children who are spastic diplegic and determine if the of stretching of high frequency would decrease the popliteal angle significantly. Methodology: Quasi Experimental study was conducted with pre-post design in a school for special need children named Rising Sun Institute for Special Children, Mughal Pura Campus & Defense campus Lahore for four consecutive months that is December 4, 2015 to April 4, 2016.A group of 32 only male children of age range between 6 to 12 years were treated given a higher frequency of static sustained stretching i.e. 6 repetitions for 60 seconds hold for 5 days per week over the previously given dose of lower frequency of stretching exercise i.e. 3 repetitions for 30 seconds hold 5 days per week. The data for baseline measurements were taken before treating with the stretching of higher frequency and post-interventional data was taken after four months. SPSS version 22.0 was used for the analysis of data. The main outcome measure was popliteal angle and increase in hamstring flexibility. Results: All the thirty one patients were male having mean age of 8.32+-1.77 years. Statistical analysis concluded that high frequency of stretching of six repetitions for sixty seconds hold and five days per week had a significant effect over low-frequency regime of three repetitions for thirty seconds hold and five days per week on decreasing popliteal angle and increasing hamstring flexibility. P value < 0.05 was taken as having a significant effect on study. Conclusion: This study showed that Sustained type of static stretching of high frequency more significantly effective as compared to low frequency in increasing hamstring flexibility and thus by decreasing Popliteal angle in spastic diplegic cerebral palsy children. Keywords: Cerebral palsy; Range of Motion; Rehabilitation; Static Stretching

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