Cerebral Palsy
Conditions
Keywords
Bilateral spastic CP,, Gross motor function, Knee extensor strength, Loaded gait training
Brief summary
A randomized controlled trial aimed to evaluate the additional effect loaded gait training to conventional physical therapy program on gross motor function and the knee extensors strength in children with bilateral spastic cerebral palsy. Children were divided randomly into two equal groups. The control group received a conventional physical therapy program, while the intervention group received the same program plus loaded gait training. Gross motor functions and knee extensor strength were measured.
Detailed description
A randomized controlled trial aimed to evaluate the additional effect loaded gait training to conventional physical therapy program on gross motor function and the knee extensors strength in children with bilateral spastic cerebral palsy (CP). 52 children with bilateral spastic CP, aged 5 to 7 years, were divided randomly into two equal groups. The control group received a conventional physical therapy program, while the intervention group received the same program plus loaded gait training 3 times per week for an hour for 3 months. Gross motor functions were measured by the Gross Motor Function Measure Scale-88 (GMFM-88); standing and walking domains, while knee extensor strength was measured by a hand-held dynamometer.
Interventions
OTHERConventional physical therapy program
This program included active resisted strengthening exercises for pelvis girdle and lower limb muscles, stretching exercises of tight muscles of lower limbs; hip flexors, hamstrings and calf muscle, balance activities from standing and walking and gait training exercises.
OTHERLoaded gait training
An extra weight was added around the distal legs during gait training in the intervention group. This weight began at 0.5 kg and was gradually increased every two weeks to a maximum of 2 kg
Sponsors
Cairo University
Study design
Allocation
RANDOMIZED
Intervention model
PARALLEL
Primary purpose
TREATMENT
Masking
DOUBLE (Subject, Outcomes Assessor)
Masking description
Double blinding. Parents were also blinded.
Intervention model description
Children were randomly assigned into two equal groups.
Eligibility
Sex/Gender
ALL
Age
5 Years to 7 Years
Healthy volunteers
No
Inclusion criteria
* Age: five to seven years old, classified as levels II and III on the GMFCS. * Spasticity grade from 1+ to 2 based on the Modified Ashworth scale. * Able to understand and follow verbal commands and instructions (with a score above 80 on the Stanford Binet Intelligence Scale).
Exclusion criteria
* Genetic or metabolic disorders. * Brain tumours. * Musculoskeletal dysfunction that would interfere with our intervention (e.g. tightness of the posterior knee joint capsule that causes passive knee extension lag, or fixed contracture of the knee joint). * Surgical intervention in the lower limbs within the preceding 12 months. * Botulinum toxin injections in lower limb muscles within the last six months.
Design outcomes
Primary
| Measure | Time frame | Description |
|---|---|---|
| Gross motor function | 1 year | Gross Motor Function Measure Scale-88 (GMFM-88); standing and walking domains. |
| knee extensor strength | 1 year | Knee extensor strength was measured by a hand-held dynamometer. |
Countries
Egypt
Outcome results
None listed