Backward walking treadmill therapy can improve walking ability in children with spastic cerebral palsy: a pilot study.
Study Goal
The researchers aimed to determine if an 8-week backward walking (BW) treadmill training could improve gross motor function, weight-bearing symmetry, and gait parameters in individuals with spastic cerebral palsy.
Results Summary
Participants showed statistically significant improvements in gross motor function, weight-bearing symmetry, forward walking velocity, and step/stride length after BW training. The study suggests BW therapy may enhance walking abilities and gross motor skills in this population.
Population
Children aged 5-15 years with spastic cerebral palsy (n=12).
Effective Dosage
Up to 20 minutes per session, three sessions per week.
Duration
8 weeks.
Interactions
None mentioned.
| Intervention | Direction | Endpoint | Population | Dosage | Impact | Claim # |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
8-week period of backward walking (BW) training on the treadmill | increase | gross motor function measure (GMFM) | individuals with spastic cerebral palsy | - | improve | #1 |
8-week period of backward walking (BW) training on the treadmill | increase | weight-bearing symmetry | individuals with spastic cerebral palsy | - | improve | #2 |
8-week period of backward walking (BW) training on the treadmill | increase | temporospatial gait parameters | individuals with spastic cerebral palsy | - | improve | #3 |
BW training on a treadmill for up to 20 min, with three sessions per week for 8 consecutive weeks | increase | a measure of GMFM | participants aged 5-15 years with spastic cerebral palsy | P<0.01 | showed statistically significant improvements | #4 |
BW training on a treadmill for up to 20 min, with three sessions per week for 8 consecutive weeks | increase | weight-bearing symmetry value | participants aged 5-15 years with spastic cerebral palsy | P<0.05 | showed statistically significant improvements | #5 |
BW training on a treadmill for up to 20 min, with three sessions per week for 8 consecutive weeks | increase | forward walking velocity | participants aged 5-15 years with spastic cerebral palsy | P<0.05 | showed statistically significant improvements | #6 |
BW training on a treadmill for up to 20 min, with three sessions per week for 8 consecutive weeks | increase | step/stride length | participants aged 5-15 years with spastic cerebral palsy | P<0.05 or P<0.01 | showed statistically significant improvements | #7 |
BW therapy on a treadmill | increase | walking abilities | this sample of patients | - | may help to improve | #8 |
BW therapy on a treadmill | increase | other gross motor skills | this sample of patients | - | may help to improve | #9 |
The aim of this study was to determine whether an 8-week period of backward walking (BW) training on the treadmill can improve the gross motor function measure (GMFM), weight-bearing symmetry, and temporospatial gait parameters in individuals with spastic cerebral palsy. Twelve participants aged 5-15 years with spastic cerebral palsy participated in this study. The BW training was conducted on a treadmill for up to 20 min, with three sessions per week for 8 consecutive weeks. Before each treadmill training session, lower limb stretching was included in the session. Interlimb differentials of vertical ground reaction force while standing, temporal-distance gait parameters, and scores of dimension D and dimension E of the GMFM were determined. Participants showed statistically significant improvements in a measure of GMFM (P<0.01) and weight-bearing symmetry value (P<0.05), forward walking velocity (P<0.05), and step/stride length (P<0.05 or P<0.01). This pilot study suggests that BW therapy on a treadmill may help to improve walking abilities and other gross motor skills in this sample of patients.