Objective: This study investigates the influence of aerobic exercise training on inhibitory control of executive functions in children with hemiplegic cerebral palsy.
Design: Single-blind randomized controlled trial.
Setting: Outpatient Physical Therapy Clinic.
Participants: Children aged 7-11 with left-sided hemiplegic cerebral palsy with emotional and behavioral dysregulation evidenced by scores >28 on Paediatric Symptom Checklist and GMFCS I or II (n = 60).
Intervention: Participants were randomly allocated into two equal groups. The control group received standard-of-care physical therapy for 1 h, and the aerobic exercise group received standard-of-care physical therapy for 30 min and moderate-intensity continuous exercise on a bicycle ergometer for 30 min. All groups received treatment three times a week for 12 weeks.
Main measures: The Eriksen Flanker test and Stroop Color-Word test were used to assess inhibitory control of executive function at the baseline and after 12 weeks.
Results: Differences between pre- and post-treatment values in the exercise group showed significant improvement in Flanker response accuracy and Stroop response accuracy (p = 0.001) and significant decreases in Flanker congruent reaction time and Stroop congruent reaction time (p < 0.05). However, there were no significant differences between both groups in Flanker incongruent reaction time and Stroop incongruent reaction time (p > 0.05).
Conclusions: Aerobic exercise has a promising effect on inhibitory control of executive function in children with left-sided hemiplegic cerebral palsy.
Keywords: Hemiplegic cerebral palsy; aerobic exercise; executive functions; inhibitory control.