FUNCTIONAL OUTCOMES OF AEROBIC AND STRENGTH TRAINING IN CHILDREN WITH CHRONIC LIVER DISEASE

RESUMO

Heba Ibrahim Ahmed*, Emam Hassan Elnegmy, Elham Elsayed Salem, Mai El-Mahdy, Walaa Abdelhakim Abd El-Nabie

Background: Children with chronic liver disease (CLD) have significant impairment in physical function. Physical deconditioning and sarcopenia are two predictors of morbidity and mortality among children with CLD.

Purpose: The present study was conducted to evaluate the effect of aerobic and strength training on aerobic capacity, muscle strength, anthropometric measures (height, weight, body mass index (BMI), triceps skin fold thickness (TST), mid upper arm circumference (MUAC), mid arm muscle circumference (MAMC) and mid upper leg circumference (MULC), health related quality of life (HRQOL) and fatigue in children with CLD.

Methods: Eighteen children with CLD from both sexes aged from 7 to 14 years old included in the study, they were recruited from Hepatology Clinic of Children’s Hospital, Cairo University. They received a designed physical therapy program of aerobic and strengthening exercises twice weekly for 8-weeks. The 6-minute walk test, hand held dynamometer (pneumatic and Lafayette hand held dynamometer), anthroplus software, pediatric quality of life inventory core scale and the pediatric multidimensional fatigue scale were used to assess aerobic capacity, grip and quadriceps strength, anthropometric measures, HRQOL and fatigue respectively pre and post treatment.

Results: Comparing the changes from baseline to post-intervention, there was significant improvement in aerobic capacity, grip and quadriceps strength, HRQOL and fatigue (p < 0.05). In addition, there was significant improvement in height and weight Post treatment compared to that pretreatment (p < 0.01) while, there was no significant change in BMI, TST, MUAC, MAMC and MULC (p > 0.05).

Conclusion: Aerobic and strength training can be added to rehabilitation program of children with CLD to improve their aerobic capacity, muscle strength and quality of life.