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A systematic review of the effectiveness of treadmill training for children with cerebral palsy
Kate L Willoughby1, Karen J Dodd, Nora Shields
1Yooralla, 48-50 Box Forest Road, Glenroy, Australia. kate.willoughby@yooralla.com.au
Insights
Treadmill training is safe and feasible for children with cerebral palsy (CP), potentially improving walking speed and gross motor skills, especially for those with severe mobility impairments. Further research is needed to confirm long-term benefits.
Area of Science:
- Pediatric Rehabilitation
- Neurology
- Physical Therapy
Background:
- Independent walking is a key therapeutic goal for children with cerebral palsy (CP).
- Treadmill training has emerged as a potential intervention to improve mobility in this population.
Purpose of the Study:
- To systematically review the effectiveness of treadmill training for children with CP.
- To evaluate the safety and feasibility of treadmill interventions for pediatric CP.
Main Methods:
- A systematic literature review was performed.
- Searches included electronic databases and citation tracking.
- Five relevant trials were included in the final analysis.
Main Results:
- Treadmill training was found to be safe and feasible for children with CP across various ages and functional abilities.
- Significant improvements in walking speed (d = 1.48) and gross motor performance (d = 1.5) were observed in children with more severe walking impairments.
- Optimal treadmill speed and session duration may need customization for specific goals like enhancing speed or endurance.
Conclusions:
- Treadmill training appears safe and feasible for children with CP.
- Positive effects on short-distance walking speed and general gross motor skills are suggested.
- Partial Body Weight Support (PBWS) may offer particular advantages for children with GMFCS III and IV mobility levels.
- More research is required to definitively establish the benefits of treadmill training for children with CP.
Purpose:
The development of efficient and independent walking is an important therapeutic goal for many children with cerebral palsy (CP). Consequently, there has been growing interest in determining the effects of treadmill training programs for these children.
Method:
A systematic review of the literature was conducted to evaluate the effectiveness of treadmill training for children with CP. Relevant trials were identified by searching electronic databases and by citation tracking.
Results:
Of 125 papers initially identified, five met the criteria for review. Results showed that treadmill training is safe and feasible for children with CP across a wide range of ages and functional abilities. Children with more severely affected walking ability significantly increased their walking speed (d = 1.48, 95% CI: 0.49-2.40) and gross motor performance (d = 1.5, 95% CI: 0.50-2.50) after training. However, the results also suggested that treadmill speed and length of training sessions might need to be set to specifically match desired intervention goals such as increasing walking speed or endurance.
Conclusions:
The review suggests that treadmill training is safe and feasible for children with CP and indicates that there may be some positive benefits in walking speed over short distances and in general gross motor skills. The provision of PBWS may be particularly beneficial for children with more severe walking disability (GMFCS III and IV). Further research is necessary before it can be concluded that treadmill training is beneficial for children with CP.
