Exercise intervention protocol in children and young adults with cerebral palsy: the effects of strength, flexibility and gait training on physical performance, neuromuscular mechanisms and cardiometabolic risk factors (EXECP)

Table 3 Testing sessions timetable and procedures

Testing session 1 (S1)	Testing session 2 (S2)	Testing session 3 (S3)
08.00 – Flexibility tests (Hip and Knee)^b;	08.00 – Blood sampling;	08.00 – Participant preparation;
08.15 – H-reflex/PAD protocol for Sol^a at rest;	08.10 – Body composition, height and arterial stiffness;	08.45 – Resting-state;
08.40 – Flexibility test (ankle)^b;	08.30 – Breakfast;	09.05 – Proprioceptive stimulation for TS^a;
08.50 – Preparatory activity PF^a/DF^a;	09.00 – Participant preparation;	09.30 – Preparatory activity DF^a;
09.00 – MVC (PF^a/DF^a);	09.50 – Gait preparatory activity;	09.40 – Isometric DF MVC^a;
09.20 – TSRT protocol (TS^a);	09.55 – 6 × 1 min gait test;	09.50 – Cortico-muscular coherence protocol^a;
09.30 – Preparatory activity KE^a/KF^a;	10.10 – Rest;	10.01 – Session ends.
09.40 – MVC (KE^a/KF^a)	10.25 – 6 min walking test;
10.00 – Session ends.	10.31 – Session ends.

NMRC Neuromuscular Research Center, CIBR Centre for Interdisciplinary Brain Research, PAD post-activation depression, Sol soleus muscle, MVC maximum voluntary contraction, PF plantarflexion, DF dorsiflexion, TSRT tonic stretch reflex threshold, TS triceps surae muscle, KE knee extension, KF knee flexion; ^amost affected limb is tested; ^b both limbs are tested

ISSN: 2052-1847