Article

The aim of this study was to evaluate the effectiveness of repetitive
locomotor training with an electromechanical gait trainer in children with
cerebral palsy. DESIGN: In this randomized controlled trial, 18 ambulatory
children with diplegic or tetraplegic cerebral palsy were randomly assigned to an
experimental group or a control group. The experimental group received 30 mins of
repetitive locomotor training with an applied technology (Gait Trainer GT I) plus
10 mins of passive joint mobilization and stretching exercises. The control group
received 40 mins of conventional physiotherapy. Each subject underwent a total of
10 treatment sessions over a 2-wk period. Performance on the 10-m walk test,
6-min walk test, WeeFIM scale, and gait analysis was evaluated by a blinded rater
before and after treatment and at 1-mo follow-up. RESULTS: The experimental group
showed significant posttreatment improvement on the 10-m walk test, 6-min walk
test, hip kinematics, gait speed, and step length, all of which were maintained
at the 1-mo follow-up assessment. No significant changes in performance
parameters were observed in the control group. CONCLUSIONS: Repetitive locomotor
training with an electromechanical gait trainer may improve gait velocity,
endurance, spatiotemporal, and kinematic gait parameters in patients with
cerebral palsy.

Langue : ANGLAIS