Effect of Treadmill Backward Walking Training on Motor Capacity in Cerebral Palsy: A Randomized Controlled Study

Area of Science:

• Pediatrics
• Neurology
• Rehabilitation Medicine

Background:

• Cerebral palsy (CP) significantly impacts motor function in children.
• Improving walking speed, balance, and endurance is crucial for functional independence in children with CP.
• Treadmill training is a common rehabilitation strategy, but backward walking training (BWT) is less explored.

Purpose of the Study:

• To investigate the effects of treadmill backward walking training (BWT) on key motor skills in children with CP.
• To assess changes in walking speed, balance, mobility, and endurance following BWT.
• To determine the efficacy of BWT as an adjunct therapy for pediatric CP.

Main Methods:

• A randomized controlled trial involving 41 children with CP (Gross Motor Function Classification System levels I-II, ages 6-18).
• Participants received standard physiotherapy, with the intervention group additionally undergoing 8 weeks of BWT (2 sessions/week, 15 min/session).
• Outcome measures included the 10-Meter Walk Test (10MWT), Pediatric Balance Scale (PBS), Timed Up and Go Test (TUG), and Two-Minute Walk Test (2MWT).

Main Results:

• The BWT group showed significant improvements: increased 2MWT distance (3.5%) and PBS scores (3.5%), and decreased TUG time (5.1%) (all p<0.001).
• Walking speed, assessed by 10MWT, improved by 6.1% (faster by 7.4%) in the BWT group (p<0.01).
• The control group exhibited no statistically significant changes in the assessed parameters.

Conclusions:

• Backward treadmill walking training leads to statistically significant, albeit small, improvements in motor capacity for children with CP.
• BWT demonstrates potential as an effective therapeutic intervention to enhance mobility and balance in pediatric CP populations.
• These findings support the integration of BWT into standard rehabilitation programs for children with CP.