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Virtual reality combined with robot-assisted gait training to improve walking ability of children with cerebral
Wen-Sheng Fu1, Yi-Cun Song2, Bao-Ai Wu2
1School of Physical Education, Shanxi University of Finance and Economics, Taiyuan, Shanxi, China.
Insights
Virtual reality (VR) combined with robot-assisted gait training (RAGT) significantly improves walking ability in children with cerebral palsy (CP). A 30% weight reduction yielded the best outcomes for these children.
Area of Science:
- Rehabilitation Medicine
- Pediatric Physical Therapy
- Assistive Technology
Background:
- Children with cerebral palsy (CP) experience impaired posture and movement, limiting activities like walking.
- Investigating novel therapeutic approaches is crucial for enhancing mobility in pediatric CP populations.
Purpose of the Study:
- To evaluate the efficacy of virtual reality (VR) combined with robot-assisted gait training (RAGT) for improving walking ability in children with CP.
- To determine the optimal weight reduction percentage for this combined therapy.
Main Methods:
- Sixty children with CP were randomly assigned to a control group (conventional therapy) or experimental groups (VR + RAGT with 15%, 30%, or 45% weight reduction).
- Therapy involved 50-minute sessions, four times weekly for 12 weeks.
- Assessments included surface electromyography (EMG), Modified Ashworth Scale, Gross Motor Function Measure (GMFM) dimensions E and D, and the Six-Minute Walking Test (6-MWT).
Main Results:
- All participants showed significant improvements post-intervention (P<0.05).
- VR combined with RAGT demonstrated superior effectiveness in enhancing walking ability compared to conventional therapy (P<0.05).
- A 30% weight reduction group exhibited the most significant improvements in CP children (P<0.01).
Conclusions:
- Virtual reality combined with robot-assisted gait training is an effective intervention for improving walking ability in children with cerebral palsy.
- The optimal weight reduction for maximizing therapeutic benefits in this combined approach is 30%.
Background:
Children with cerebral palsy (CP) have disorders of posture and movement and which can limit physical activities such as walkingOBJECTIVE: This study aims to investigate the effectiveness of virtual reality (VR) combined with robot-assisted gait training (RAGT) on walking ability in children with CP and clarify the most effective degree of weight reduction.
Methods:
Sixty CP children were recruited and randomly allocated into four different groups. The control group received conventional physical therapy (n= 15), and task groups performed VR combined with RAGT with 15% (Group A, n= 15) /30% (Group B, n= 15) /45% (Group C, n= 15) weight loss. All participants were given 50 min of therapy per session four times a week for 12 weeks and were assessed pre-and post-test with the surface electromyography (EMG), the Modified Ashworth Scale, the Gross Motor Function Measure (GMFM) dimension E and D, and Six-Minute Walking Test (6-MWT).
Results:
All indicators had improved significantly in each group after the intervention (P< 0.05). The result of our study demonstrated that the more effective impacts of VR combined with RAGT on walking ability compared to the control group (P< 0.05), and 30% of weight loss had the best improvement in CP children (P< 0.01).
Conclusions:
VR combined RAGT can effectively improve walking ability in children with CP, especially when the weight loss is 30%.
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