A Progressive Running Program for an Adolescent With Cerebral Palsy.

PURPOSE: To describe the physical therapy intervention and outcomes for a 20-week progressive running program.

SUMMARY OF KEY POINTS: A 12-year-old boy with spastic diplegic cerebral palsy, Gross Motor Function Classification System level II, participated in a 20-week running program. The 6-minute walk test and the 88-item and 66-item versions of the Gross Motor Function Measure (GMFM) were administered at baseline and program completion. After completion of the program, the participant exceeded thresholds for minimally clinically important differences on the GMFM-66 total score and GMFM-88 Dimension D and E scores. He improved gait speed and distance walked during the 6-minute walk test.

CONCLUSIONS AND RECOMMENDATIONS FOR CLINICAL PRACTICE: Participation in a progressive running program is a feasible intervention to promote improvements in walking speed and gross motor function in some adolescents with spastic diplegic cerebral palsy in Gross Motor Function Classification System level II.