Clinical effects of assisted robotic gait training in walking distance, speed, and functionality are maintained over the long term in individuals with cerebral palsy: a systematic review and meta-analysis

Efficacy of Robot-Assisted Gait Therapy Compared to Conventional Therapy or Treadmill Training in Children with Cerebral Palsy: A Systematic Review with Meta-Analysis

“…Regarding CP, RAGT seemed to be safe and the qualitative analysis reported positive results. Later, Volpini and colleagues assessed the effect of RAGT on gait speed, walking distance and the D and E dimensions of gross motor function collecting data from 7 studies and 77 individuals [57]. However, they did not perform specific comparisons, as has been done in the current review.…”

“…To date, four recent systematic reviews have assessed the effect of RAGT on gait, gross motor and functional disability in children with CP [56][57][58]98]. Carvalho and colleagues, in 2017, performed a meta-analysis with 10 studies (including observational and experimental designs) to assess the effect of RAGT vs. other therapies, without reporting statistically significant differences for gait speed, walking distance and gross motor function [98].…”

“…Another study by Volpini et al conducted a meta-analysis in 2022 including seven studies that analyzed the effect of RAGT on gross motor function and walking distance. This was the first meta-analysis suggesting that RAGT could be effective in the management of CP [57]. Finally, in 2022, Conner et al published a meta-analysis including eight studies assessing the effectiveness of RAGT on gross motor function, walking distance and gait speed.…”

“…There is evidence from three previous published reviews showing that RAGT may be a safe and useful therapy to be used in the recovery of gait, balance and gross motor function disorders in these children. However, these reviews do not report substantial variation between RAGT and other therapies, such as CT or TT [56][57][58]. In 2021, Cumplido et al conducted a systematic review that included 21 articles (only five were CP, mixed with spinal muscular atrophy, and not all of them were designed to compare two groups) published until 2020, in which the year of publication filter was included as well as the age of the participants [56].…”

Effect of robot-assisted gait training on functional capabilities in individuals with cerebral palsy: a systematic review and meta-analysis

“…The studies are still few, outcome measures and treatment effects vary, clinical effectiveness remains controversial, and more high-quality evidence-based medicine is needed to support this [6]. Meta-analysis is a statistical method that quantifies several interventions and prioritizes the effects of interventions based on different outcome measures.…”