Document Type
Article
Language
eng
Publication Date
11-2017
Publisher
Elsevier (WB Saunders)
Source Publication
Archives of Physical Medicine and Rehabilitation
Source ISSN
0003-9993
Abstract
Objective
To determine whether applying controlled resistance forces to the legs during the swing phase of gait may improve the efficacy of treadmill training as compared with applying controlled assistance forces in children with cerebral palsy (CP).
Design
Randomized controlled study.
Setting
Research unit of a rehabilitation hospital.
Participants
Children with spastic CP (N=23; mean age, 10.6y; range, 6–14y; Gross Motor Function Classification System levels, I–IV).
Interventions
Participants were randomly assigned to receive controlled assistance (n=11) or resistance (n=12) loads applied to the legs at the ankle. Participants underwent robotic treadmill training 3 times a week for 6 weeks (18 sessions). A controlled swing assistance/resistance load was applied to both legs starting from the toe-off to mid-swing phase of gait during training.
Main Outcome Measures
Outcome measures consisted of overground walking speed, 6-minute walk distance, and Gross Motor Function Measure scores and were assessed pre and post 6 weeks of training and 8 weeks after the end of training.
Results
After 6 weeks of treadmill training in participants from the resistance training group, fast walking speed and 6-minute walk distance significantly improved (18% and 30% increases, respectively), and 6-minute walk distance was still significantly greater than that at baseline (35% increase) 8 weeks after the end of training. In contrast, overground gait speed and 6-minute walk distance had no significant changes after robotic assistance training.
Conclusions
The results of the present study indicated that robotic resistance treadmill training is more effective than assistance training in improving locomotor function in children with CP.
Recommended Citation
Wu, Ming; Kim, Janis; Gaebler-Spira, Deborah J.; Schmit, Brian D.; and Arora, Pooja, "Robotic Resistance Treadmill Training Improves Locomotor Function in Children With Cerebral Palsy: A Randomized Controlled Pilot Study" (2017). Biomedical Engineering Faculty Research and Publications. 527.
https://epublications.marquette.edu/bioengin_fac/527
ADA Accessible Version
Comments
Accepted version. Archives of Physical Medicine and Rehabilitation, Vol. 98, No. 11 (November 2017): 2126-2133. DOI. © 2017 American Congress of Rehabilitation Medicine. Used with permission.