Article

The aim of this study was to evaluate the effect of a treadmill
program on gross motor function, walking speed, and spasticity of ambulatory
adolescents with spastic cerebral palsy (diplegia and tetraplegia). DESIGN: In
this randomized controlled trial, 22 adolescents (13-19 yrs old) from a special
school for children with physical disabilities were randomly allocated to the
experimental and control training groups.
The experimental training group
underwent a treadmill program without body weight support at a comfortable speed.
The control group received treatment with conventional physiotherapy, which
consisted of three sets of exercises with mat activities, balance, gait training,
and functional gross motor activities. The program lasted 12 wks with a frequency
of three times per week for both groups. Pretest and posttest measurements of
self-selected walking speed, gross motor function, and spasticity were conducted.
RESULTS: The analysis of covariance findings examining posttest differences
between groups were significant with respect to self-selected walking speed (F =
8.545, P = 0.000) and gross motor function (F = 9.088, P = 0.007), whereas no
significance was found for spasticity. CONCLUSIONS: Treadmill training may
improve the walking speed and gross motor function of adolescents with spastic
cerebral palsy, without adverse effects on spasticity.

Langue : ANGLAIS