A young person with Cerebral Palsy engages in power training, symbolizing improved strength and mobility.

Unlocking Mobility: How Power Training Can Help Young People with Cerebral Palsy

Lena Kashyap in Health & Wellness August 2025 • 4 min read.

"A pilot study reveals the potential of power training to improve muscle function in young individuals with Cerebral Palsy, offering a new avenue for enhancing their physical abilities."

Cerebral Palsy (CP) presents numerous challenges, including impaired coordination, perception, and secondary musculoskeletal problems. Among these, muscle weakness significantly affects functionality, making effective interventions crucial.

Traditional treatments may not always yield the desired results in improving muscle strength. This article explores an innovative approach: power training. Emerging research suggests that power training could be a more effective physical rehabilitation strategy for individuals with CP, enhancing their ability to overcome muscle weakness.

This article discusses a pilot study that investigated the effectiveness of a power training intervention for young people with CP. Discover how this targeted approach could revolutionize rehabilitation and improve the lives of individuals with CP.

The Power Training Pilot Study: Methods and Results

A young person with Cerebral Palsy engages in power training, symbolizing improved strength and mobility.

The study employed a randomized, crossover design involving eleven participants. Participants were divided into two groups: a training-first group and a rest-first group. The training-first group underwent a six-week training program targeting upper extremity muscles three days per week, followed by a six-week rest period. The rest-first group followed the reverse sequence.

The training was administered using the Concept 2 SkiergTM, which simulated a unilateral, overhand throwing exercise. The SkiergTM facilitated exercises at the participants' homes or schools. Investigators used the SkiergTM to simulate a unilateral, overhand throwing exercise following power training guidelines to individuals with CP. Each Skierg™ was mounted with a performance monitor to assess average power output (Pavg) of a training session. Pavg was recorded over the six week training period for both groups.

Consistent Training Yields Results: Over six weeks, each participant completed at least 15 training sessions.
Increased Power Output: Average power output (Pavg) increased linearly with the number of training sessions (Nt), described by the equation Pavg = 1.79 + 0.22Nt W (p = .001).
Significant Improvement: Comparing the first and last full training sessions, Pavg increased from 2.56±3.39 to 4.92±5.42 W (paired samples t-test; p = .021).

The results indicated a significant increase in average power output over the training period. These findings suggest that consistent power training can lead to meaningful improvements in muscle function for young people with CP.

The Promise of Power Training for Young People with CP

The study reveals the potential of power training as an effective intervention to increase power output among young people with CP. As the study demonstrates, power training may offer unique advantages to increase power output among young people with CP, which could lead to improved function.

These improvements can have a cascading effect, enhancing mobility, coordination, and overall quality of life. By focusing on exercises that improve muscle power, young individuals with CP can experience greater independence and participation in daily activities.

Further research is needed to explore the long-term effects of power training and to optimize training protocols for individuals with CP. However, this pilot study offers a promising glimpse into a future where targeted exercise interventions can significantly improve the lives of young people with Cerebral Palsy.

About this Article -

This article was crafted using a human-AI hybrid and collaborative approach. AI assisted our team with initial drafting, research insights, identifying key questions, and image generation. Our human editors guided topic selection, defined the angle, structured the content, ensured factual accuracy and relevance, refined the tone, and conducted thorough editing to deliver helpful, high-quality information.See our About page for more information.

This article is based on research published under:

DOI-LINK: 10.1249/01.mss.0000478537.81679.2c, Alternate LINK

Title: Changes In Power Output During Training Among Young People With Cerebral Palsy

Subject: Physical Therapy, Sports Therapy and Rehabilitation

Journal: Medicine & Science in Sports & Exercise

Publisher: Ovid Technologies (Wolters Kluwer Health)

Authors: Keagan Kiely, Gavin Colquitt, Nicholas Coker, Li Li, Kristina Kendall, Robert L. Vogel

Published: 2015-05-01

Everything You Need To Know

How was the power training pilot study structured and what specific equipment was used?

The pilot study used a randomized, crossover design with two groups: a training-first group and a rest-first group. The training-first group did six weeks of power training, targeting upper extremity muscles three days a week, followed by six weeks of rest. The rest-first group did the reverse. The training was done using the Concept 2 SkiergTM, simulating a unilateral, overhand throwing exercise, to measure average power output (Pavg).

What were the key results of the power training pilot study, and what do these findings suggest?

The results indicated that consistent power training could lead to meaningful improvements in muscle function for young people. Over six weeks, each participant completed at least 15 training sessions. The average power output (Pavg) increased linearly with the number of training sessions (Nt), described by the equation Pavg = 1.79 + 0.22*Nt W (p = .001). Comparing the first and last full training sessions, Pavg increased from 2.56±3.39 to 4.92±5.42 W (paired samples t-test; p = .021).

In what ways might power training, particularly with the Concept 2 SkiergTM, be more effective than traditional treatments for muscle weakness?

Power training, as implemented with the Concept 2 SkiergTM, can be more effective than traditional treatments in improving muscle strength. This approach may offer unique advantages to increase power output, potentially leading to improved function and mobility. Muscle weakness is a significant problem, this improves it.

What limitations existed in the pilot study's design, and what areas could be explored in future research regarding power training?

The pilot study focused on upper extremity muscles using the Concept 2 SkiergTM. Future research could explore power training's impact on lower body muscles. The study did not measure long-term retention of power output gains or the effects of combining power training with other rehabilitation methods. Investigating these aspects could provide a more comprehensive understanding of power training's benefits.

Quantitatively, how much did the average power output increase during the study, and what does the derived equation signify about the impact of consistent training?

The study showed that average power output (Pavg) increased by about 2.36 W (from 2.56±3.39 to 4.92±5.42 W) over the six-week training period. The equation Pavg = 1.79 + 0.22*Nt W means that for each training session (Nt), the average power output increased by 0.22 W. Consistent training led to statistically significant improvements, indicating that power training is a worthwhile intervention to consider.