Article

The aim of this study was to assess gait in children with spastic
diplegic cerebral palsy rehabilitated with the use of Lokomat active orthosis.
DESIGN: A randomized controlled trial. SUBJECTS: Fifty-two children with spastic
diplegic cerebral palsy. METHODS: Temporospatial parameters of gait and selected
kinematic parameters were assessed. Children from the study group used active
orthosis in addition to following a programme of individual exercises. Children
in the control group participated only in individual exercises. RESULTS: The
difference between the initial and control examinations was statistically
insignificant. After the programme was finished, there was a slight improvement
in walking speed in both groups. Improvement in the mean walking speed was not
significantly different between the groups (p = 0.5905). Range of motion
decreased slightly in both groups, and the difference between mean amounts of
change was not significant (p = 0.8676). There was significant improvement in
maximal range of flexion in the hip joint (p = 0.0065) in the study. It was shown
that with a decrease in the mean value of adduction in hip joint, the mean
walking speed increased (r = -0.53, p = 0.0011). CONCLUSION: There are several
limitations to this study, therefore these results should be regarded as
preliminary. Further research consistent with the above indications is needed to
investigate the impact of this new treatment option in patients with cerebral
palsy.

Langue : ANGLAIS