Effect of Treadmill Gait Training Combined With Balance Exercises on Functional Mobility and Balance in Children With...

To investigate the effects of a gait training program on functional mobility and balance in children with cerebral palsy.

Twenty-two children 6-12 years old with spastic cerebral palsy (Gross Motor Function Classification System levels I-III) participated. They were randomly assigned to a gait training program or a control group. Both groups received neurodevelopmental treatment over a 12-week period. In addition, the intervention group received treadmill training combined with balance exercises. Walking speed, Gross Motor Function Measure dimension D and E, Pediatric Balance Scale, 1-minute walk test, and ankle range of motion were measured at baseline and at 12 weeks by a blind assessor. Data were analyzed with 2-way analysis of variance with 1 repeated factor (time) and 1 independent factor (group).

The intervention group improved walking speed (10-m walk) by a mean of 7.4 units (95% CI, 1.6-16.4) and the Gross Motor Function Measure-E score by a mean of 16.8 units (95% CI, 3.9-29.7) compared with the control group. No other significant between-group differences were observed. Within-group statistically significant differences were observed primarily for the gait training group. No serious adverse events were reported.

A gait training program appeared to be beneficial for mobility-related outcomes in young children with cerebral palsy. Training focused on gait, and this was increased with less, if any, change in other outcomes, such as balance or range of motion.