Effects of additional inspiratory muscle training on mobility capacity and respiratory strength for school-children and adolescents with cerebral palsy: a randomized controlled trial

Background: Children and adolescents with cerebral palsy often have poor respiratory function, which is often not addressed. Objective: To examine if adding inspiratory muscle training to sensorimotor exercises would improve mobility capacity and respiratory function in children and adolescents with cerebral palsy. Methods: Forty school-children and adolescents with cerebral palsy aged 8–15 years with Gross Motor Function Classification System I–III, participated in this randomized controlled trial. The experimental group received 45 min of sensorimotor physical therapy in addition to 15 min of inspiratory muscle training for 18 sessions over six weeks. In contrast, the control group received 45 min of sensorimotor training session, three times a week over six weeks. The primary outcome measure was the six-minute walk test. The secondary outcome measures were maximal inspiratory and maximal expiratory pressure, as well as pulmonary function tests. Results: Time by group interaction showed no statistical significance between the groups in any outcome measures except for peak expiratory flow. The mean difference of 9.6 cm H₂O (95% CI: 2.3, 16.8) in the MIP from baseline to 2-month follow-up supports the experimental intervention. Post-training, the between-group mean difference was 19.8 (95% CI: -18, 57.6) meter in the six-minute walk test. Conclusion: Adding inspiratory muscle training to sensorimotor physical therapy did not impact mobility capacity in children and adolescents with cerebral palsy.