Development and evaluation of a bicycle test and training protocol for adults with cerebral palsy

An inactive lifestyle and secondary problem often play a central role in daily
life of people with a disability. To prevent secondary complications and to
improve the physical capacity, it is important that people with a disability
participate in sport activities. However, it is difficult for them to join
regular sport clubs because specific knowledge and equipment is often not
available. For people with and without a disability, who participate in sport,
it is important that their performance (i.e. fitness, strenght, speed) is
tested regularly. With these test results the capacity of the persons can be
determined, which is necessay for developing a good individual training
protocol.
Very little information is available about test and training protocols for
adults with cerebral palsy. The purpose of this study is to develop knowledge
about the most ideal test and training protocol for adults with cerebral palsy.
With this knowledge we are better able to advise people with a cerebral palsy
who want to participate in recreational or elite sports.

The primary goal of this research project is to develop and evaluate the effect
of a 6-weeks cycling training program for adults with cerebral parese on the
physical capacity, walking function, participation, and active lifestyle (part
2).
An associated goal is to develop and evaluate a reliable and valid test
protocol for aduls with cerebral palsy (part 1). The results of this test
protocol will be used to develop and evaluate the training program.

A controlled-randomized trial (part 2).

The intervention is a 6-weeks cycling training program, 3x/week for 45 minutes
on 50% heart rate reserve on a cycle ergometer.

Part 1: Subjects will perform tests on 3 test days to determine the physical
capacity, walking function, active lifestyle and participation and their
relationship.

Part 2: Subjects will participate in a 18 weeks research project, executing a 6
week training program on a cycle ergometer, 3 days/week 45 min on 50% heart
rate reserve. Measurements will be performed at 3 different time slots.

Subjects may experience some discomfort and/or muscle soreness after the peak
exercise test or training. Furthermore, the risks during training and testing
sessions are relatively low because of thorough screening prior to
participation, use of skilled and licensed therapist and safety precautions
throughout training and testing. The expected benificial training effects in
combination with the limited risks would justify execution of the proposed
study.