Related Experiment Video
Updated: Sep 13, 2025
Author Spotlight: Repetitive Transcranial Magnetic Stimulation Combined with Movement Observation in Cerebral Palsy
Published on: August 9, 2024
Comparison of the Aquatic Therapy Protocols on Gait of Children With Cerebral Palsy: A Randomized Controlled Trial
Caio Roberto Aparecido de Paschoal Castro1, Lais Cardoso de Oliveira, Alessandra Mitie Kakihata
1Associação de Assistência à Criança Deficiente (AACD), Department of Aquatic Physical Therapy, Sao Paulo, Brazil.
Objective:
To analyze and compare the effects of 2 aquatic exercise protocols on the gait of children with cerebral palsy (CP), aged 6 to 8 years.
Methods:
A randomized, controlled, and blind clinical trial, carried out with 16 children with CP classified to Gross Motor Function Classification System (GMFCS) II and III bilateral spastic, divided into a group of aquatic balance exercises group (BG) and a group of aquatic trunk exercises group (TG). The following assessments were completed before and after the intervention: 6-Minute Walk Test (6MWT), Trunk Control Measurement Scale, Pediatric Balance Scale, Timed Up and Go, Dynamic Gait Index, and Child Health Questionnaire-Parent form 50.
Results:
BG was superior to TG in 6MWT after the intervention. Improvement was observed in most outcomes in both groups.
Conclusion:
The protocols demonstrated positive effects on the outcomes analyzed, and BG performed better in the distance covered in 6MWT.
