TY  - JOUR
PY  - 2015//
TI  - Robot-assisted gait training might be beneficial for more severely affected children with cerebral palsy: brief report
JO  - Developmental neurorehabilitation
A1  - van Hedel, Hubertus J. A.
A1  - Meyer-Heim, Andreas
A1  - Rüsch-Bohtz, Christina
SP  - 410
EP  - 415
VL  - 19
IS  - 6
N2  - PURPOSE: Robot-assisted gait training (RAGT) can complement conventional therapies in children with cerebral palsy. We investigated changes in walking-related outcomes between children with different Gross Motor Function Classification System (GMFCS) levels and the dose-response relationship. <br><br>METHODS: Data from 67 children (3.9-19.9 years) with GMFCS levels II-IV were evaluated retrospectively. Every child received RAGT with the Lokomat complementing a multidisciplinary rehabilitation program. Changes in various walking-related outcomes were assessed. <br><br>RESULTS: Walking-related outcomes did not improve differently between GMFCS level groups. Significant within-group improvements were mainly observed in children with GMFCS level IV. A dose-response relationship was present for children with GMFCS levels III and IV. <br><br>CONCLUSIONS: Our results indicated that, although children with a GMFCS level IV walked less during an average Lokomat session, they experienced significant improvements in walking-related outcomes. Further, training dose correlated with changes in walking-related outcomes. However, between-group differences in changes in walking-related outcomes were not significant.<p />  <p>Language: en</p>
LA  - en
SN  - 1751-8423
UR  - http://dx.doi.org/10.3109/17518423.2015.1017661
ID  - ref1
ER  -