The Effect of Treadmill Training on Gross Motor Function and Walking Speed in Ambulatory Adolescents with Cerebral Palsy

Abstract

Treadmill training may improve the walking speed and gross motor function of adolescents with spastic cerebral palsy, without adverse effects on spasticity.

Effectiveness of Exercise on Functional Mobility in Adults with Cerebral Palsy: A Systematic Review

“…The four remaining studies showed no statistically significant differences and trivial effect sizes between the control and experimental groups. 11,14,16,17 Although not all studies demonstrated statistical significance in their interventions, some of the studies reported clinical significance in other areas. Kim and colleagues 15(p.912) discussed the fact that participants also showed improvements in functional ''gait measures such as cadence, walking velocity, stride length, step length, stride time, and step time.''…”

“…11,[15][16][17] Regarding blinding, the care provider was not blinded in any of the studies reviewed, 11,14-18 and the patient was not blinded in four of the randomized studies; 11,14,16,17 this could lead to bias on the part of care providers and patients. No disclosure of information about co-interventions could decrease assurance that the results of a study occurred solely because of that intervention and not secondarily, because of external factors.…”

“…15 Two studies included participants with various types of spasticity. 14,16,18 Three studies included participants who were at Gross Motor Function Classification System (GMFCS) levels I-III; 14,16,17 one study included participants at GMFCS levels II-III; 11 in another, participants were at GMFCS levels I-II; 18 and one study did not report GMFCS levels. 15 Individual interventions and the results of each study varied greatly.…”

“…One pre-post case series was included. 18 Three of the studies used participants who were young adults (aged 18-27 y, SD ¼ 2.5), 11,14,15 and three studies used participants ranging from their early 20s to their late 50s. [16][17][18] Participants in two studies had spastic diplegia; 11,17 in one, they had spastic tetraplegia; 14,18 in another, they had bilateral spasticity.…”

“…Data from participants aged 18 years and older were extracted, and a detailed description of each study is provided. Five of the studies were randomized controlled trials with either a treatment and control group 11,14,16 or two different treatment groups. 15,17 All reported control groups received the standard of care for the study or the typical PT intervention for that setting.…”