Functional effects of robotic-assisted locomotor treadmill thearapy in children with cerebral palsy

The aim of this study was to assess gait in children with spastic diplegic cerebral palsy rehabilitated with the use of Lokomat active orthosis.

A randomized controlled trial.

Fifty-two children with spastic diplegic cerebral palsy.

Temporospatial parameters of gait and selected kinematic parameters were assessed. Children from the study group used active orthosis in addition to following a programme of individual exercises. Children in the control group participated only in individual exercises.

The difference between the initial and control examinations was statistically insignificant. After the programme was finished, there was a slight improvement in walking speed in both groups. Improvement in the mean walking speed was not significantly different between the groups (p = 0.5905). Range of motion decreased slightly in both groups, and the difference between mean amounts of change was not significant (p = 0.8676). There was significant improvement in maximal range of flexion in the hip joint (p = 0.0065) in the study. It was shown that with a decrease in the mean value of adduction in hip joint, the mean walking speed increased (r = -0.53, p = 0.0011).

There are several limitations to this study, therefore these results should be regarded as preliminary. Further research consistent with the above indications is needed to investigate the impact of this new treatment option in patients with cerebral palsy.