Functional and Neurophysiological Changes After Activities-Based Locomotor Training in Children With Cerebral Palsy:...

Area of Science:

• Pediatric Rehabilitation
• Neuroscience
• Biomedical Engineering

Background:

• Cerebral palsy (CP) significantly impacts motor function in children.
• Locomotor training is a key intervention for improving mobility in children with CP.
• Understanding neurophysiological changes associated with interventions is crucial for optimizing treatment.

Purpose of the Study:

• To assess the feasibility and impact of a 3-week activities-based locomotor training (AB-LT) program.
• To evaluate functional activity improvements in children with CP.
• To explore neurophysiological adaptations following the AB-LT intervention.

Main Methods:

• A case series involving 5 children with CP (Gross Motor Function Classification Scale levels III-IV, aged 2-6 years).
• Participants underwent a 3-week AB-LT program (5 days/week, 3 hours/day).
• Evaluations included the Gross Motor Function Measure-66 (GMFM-66) and functional near-infrared spectroscopy (fNIRS) pre- and post-intervention.

Main Results:

• Four out of five children showed improvements in GMFM-66 scores exceeding expected natural progression.
• fNIRS revealed reduced total hemoglobin activation and increased neural demand post-intervention.
• One child demonstrated minimal functional changes and no significant neurophysiological adaptations.

Conclusions:

• A short-duration, high-intensity AB-LT program can be feasible for children with CP.
• The AB-LT regimen shows potential for enhancing functional outcomes and inducing neurophysiological changes.
• Individual responses to AB-LT may vary, warranting further investigation.