Physical fitness and exercise training on individuals with spina bifida: a systematic review.
Short aerobic and strength workouts boost endurance in spina bifida, but baseline deficits are huge.
01Research in Context
What this study did
Oliveira et al. (2014) looked at every paper that tested exercise for people with spina bifida. They wanted to know how fit these clients are and whether workouts help. The team pulled data from studies that used bikes, weights, or mixed programs.
They graded each study for quality. Most were small and short, so the proof is still thin.
What they found
People with spina bifida start way behind on strength and heart fitness. Aerobic and strength training give moderate gains in endurance and power. The catch: most studies are weak, so we cannot set firm dosing rules yet.
How this fits with other research
Lifshitz et al. (2014) show the same kids also do fewer leisure activities, especially girls. The two papers line up: low fitness and low participation travel together. Ana et al. say "train them," while N et al. say "they miss out"—no clash, just two sides of one problem.
Waldron et al. (2023) reviewed falls-prevention in adults with intellectual disability. Like Ana, they found exercise helps, but both reviews say evidence is small and shaky. The message across diagnoses: move more, yet research must grow.
Park et al. (2011) link limb deformity to lost function in cerebral palsy. Ana et al. add that even without deformity, clients with spina bifida are unfit. Together they tell us to screen both structure and fitness before writing plans.
Why it matters
You now know that clients with spina bifida are starting miles behind on strength and stamina. Brief bike or weight sessions can push endurance up, even if the evidence is rough. Pair every motor goal with a fitness check and build in short bouts of aerobic work—your session can double as both therapy and training.
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02At a glance
03Original abstract
Spina Bifida (SB) is characterized by several physical impairments; however, data on physical fitness and on the benefits of exercise training in individuals with SB are dispersed in the literature. Thus, this systematic review aimed to describe (i) physical fitness components (cardiorespiratory endurance, muscle strength, body composition, flexibility and neuromotor) and (ii) exercise training effects on the physical fitness of individuals with SB. CINAHL, MEDLINE and EMBASE were searched from January to March 2013 and updated in December 2013. Twenty-three studies were included. A summary of the results was performed using a best-evidence synthesis. Participants with SB had lower cardiorespiratory endurance (-32 to 54% in VO2 peak) and muscle strength (-58 to 90%) and higher body fat (159%) than their healthy peers. Mobility restrictions were present in 26.3-61% of participants. No data on neuromotor fitness were found. Aerobic and strength training improved participants' cardiorespiratory endurance (effect sizes 0.78-1.4) and muscle strength (effect sizes 0-0.59). Individuals with SB have impaired cardiorespiratory endurance, muscle strength, body composition and flexibility when compared to healthy peers. Exercise training seems to improve two of these fitness components (cardiorespiratory endurance and muscle strength). Nevertheless, the heterogeneity of the studies' designs, methods and instruments used limits the establishment of firm conclusions and highlights the need for further research.
Research in developmental disabilities, 2014 · doi:10.1016/j.ridd.2014.02.002