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Asymmetric Walkway: A Novel Behavioral Assay for Studying Asymmetric Locomotion
Published on: January 15, 2016
Over ground walking and body weight supported walking improve mobility equally in cerebral palsy: a randomised
Ni Ni Swe1, Sunitha Sendhilnnathan2, Maayken van Den Berg3
1Department of Rehabilitation Aged and Extended Care, Flinders University, Australia Cerebral Palsy Alliance Singapore, Singapore.
Insights
Partial body weight supported treadmill training (PBWSTT) showed no superior benefit over overground walking for improving walking ability in children with cerebral palsy. Continued training for 8 weeks enhanced gains achieved in 4 weeks for both methods.
Area of Science:
- Pediatrics
- Neurology
- Rehabilitation Medicine
Background:
- Cerebral palsy (CP) affects motor function, impacting walking ability in children.
- Therapeutic interventions aim to improve mobility and functional outcomes in pediatric CP populations.
- Overground walking and partial body weight supported treadmill training (PBWSTT) are common rehabilitation approaches.
Purpose of the Study:
- To compare the effectiveness of PBWSTT versus overground walking training for enhancing walking ability in children with mild to moderate CP.
- To evaluate changes in walking speed and functional mobility over an 8-week intervention period.
Main Methods:
- A randomized controlled trial was conducted with 30 children (aged 6-18) with CP (Gross Motor Function Classification System levels II-III).
- Participants received 8 weeks of training, with two 30-minute sessions per week, either overground or using PBWSTT.
- Outcomes included the 10-meter walk test, 6-minute walk test, and Gross Motor Function Measure, assessed at baseline, 4, and 8 weeks.
Main Results:
- No significant difference in overall group outcomes between PBWSTT and overground training.
- Walking speed showed a significant improvement in the PBWSTT group by week 4, but this difference diminished by week 8.
- All participants demonstrated significant improvements from baseline by week 8, irrespective of the training group.
Conclusions:
- PBWSTT is not more effective than overground walking for improving walking and functional aspects in children with mild to moderate CP.
- An 8-week training duration allows for further enhancement of functional gains initially observed at 4 weeks for both training modalities.
Objective:
To assess partial body weight supported treadmill training versus over ground training for walking ability in children with mild to moderate cerebral palsy.
Design:
Randomised controlled trial.
Setting:
A Special Needs school in Singapore.
Subjects:
Thirty children with cerebral palsy, aged 6-18, with a Gross Motor Function Classification System score of II-III.
Interventions:
Two times 30 minute sessions of walking training per week for 8 weeks, progressed as tolerated, either over ground (control) or using partial body weight supported treadmill training (intervention).
Main Measures:
The 10 metre walk test, and the 6 minute walk test. Secondary measures were sub-sections D and E on the Gross Motor Function Measure. Outcomes were assessed at baseline, and after 4 and 8 weeks of training.
Results:
There was no effect of group allocation on any outcome measure, while time was a significant factor for all outcomes. Walking speed improved significantly more in the intervention group by week 4 (0.109 (0.067)m/s vs 0.048 (0.071)m/s, P=0.024) however by week 8 the change from baseline was similar (intervention 0.0160 (0.069)m/s vs control 0.173 (0.109)m/s, P=0.697). All gains made by week 4 were significantly improved on by week 8 for the 10 metre walk test, 6 minute walk test, and the gross motor function measure.
Conclusions:
Partial body weight supported treadmill training is no more effective than over ground walking at improving aspects of walking and function in children with mild to moderate cerebral palsy. Gains seen in 4 weeks can be furthered by 8 weeks.
