Effect of backward walking training on postural balance in children with hemiparetic cerebral palsy: a randomized controlled study.
Study Goal
The researchers aimed to determine whether additional backward walking training improves postural control in children with hemiparetic cerebral palsy compared to traditional physical therapy alone.
Results Summary
The study found that backward walking training significantly improved overall, anteroposterior, and mediolateral stability indices at both stable and moderately unstable levels compared to the control group. Both groups showed improvements, but the experimental group demonstrated greater gains.
Population
Thirty children (10-14 years, 14 girls and 16 boys) with spastic hemiparetic cerebral palsy.
Effective Dosage
25 minutes/day, 3 days/week for 3 months.
Duration
12 weeks.
Interactions
None mentioned.
| Intervention | Direction | Endpoint | Population | Dosage | Impact | Claim # |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
traditional physical therapy program | increase | overall stability index | children with spastic hemiparetic cerebral palsy | - | significant improvement | #1 |
traditional physical therapy program | increase | anteroposterior stability index | children with spastic hemiparetic cerebral palsy | - | significant improvement | #2 |
traditional physical therapy program | increase | mediolateral stability index | children with spastic hemiparetic cerebral palsy | - | significant improvement | #3 |
additional backward walking training plus traditional physical therapy program | increase | overall stability index | children with spastic hemiparetic cerebral palsy | 1.40 ± 0.44 and 1.73 ± 0.51 (level 12 and level 7) | significant improvement | #4 |
additional backward walking training plus traditional physical therapy program | increase | anteroposterior stability index | children with spastic hemiparetic cerebral palsy | 1.11 ± 0.34 and 2.13 ± 0.52 (level 12 and level 7) | significant improvement | #5 |
additional backward walking training plus traditional physical therapy program | increase | mediolateral stability index | children with spastic hemiparetic cerebral palsy | 1.93 ± 0.51 and 2.68 ± 0.52 (level 12 and level 7) | significant improvement | #6 |
additional backward walking training plus traditional physical therapy program | increase | postural stability indices | children with spastic hemiparetic cerebral palsy | - | yields improvement | #7 |
OBJECTIVE: To study the effect of additional backward walking training on postural control in children with hemiparetic cerebral palsy. DESIGN: Randomized controlled study. SETTING: Physical therapy clinics. SUBJECTS: Thirty spastic hemiparetic cerebral palsied children of both sexes (10-14 years, 14 girls and 16 boys). INTERVENTION: Children were randomly assigned into two equal groups: experimental and control groups. Both groups received a traditional physical therapy program for 12 weeks. Experimental group additionally received backward walking training which was provided 25 min/day, 3 days/week for 3 successive months. OUTCOME MEASURES: Baseline and post-treatment assessment for overall, anteroposterior, and mediolateral stability indices were evaluated by using Biodex balance system. RESULTS: After treatment; two way ANOVA revealed significant improvement in overall, anteroposterior and mediolateral stability indices of experimental group at the most stable level (level 12) and moderately unstable level (level 7) (1.40 ± 0.44 and 1.73 ± 0.51; 1.11 ± 0.34 and 2.13 ± 0.52; 1.93 ± 0.51 and 2.68 ± 0.52) respectively, than control group (1.77 ± 0.44 and 2.17 ± 0.56; 1.44 ± 0.44 and 2.54 ± 0.49; 2.39 ± 0.65 and 3.11 ± 0.49) respectively, (P < 0.05). There were significant improvement in all measured variables for both groups at both levels (P < 0.05). CONCLUSION: Additional backward walking training to traditional physical therapy program yields improvement in postural stability indices in children with spastic hemiparetic cerebral palsy than traditional physical therapy alone.