TY  - JOUR
PY  - 2017//
TI  - Effects of antigravity treadmill training on gait, balance, and fall risk in children with diplegic cerebral palsy
JO  - American journal of physical medicine and rehabilitation
A1  - El-Shamy, Shamekh Mohamed
SP  - 809
EP  - 815
VL  - 96
IS  - 11
N2  - OBJECTIVE: The aim of this study was to investigate the effects of antigravity treadmill training on gait, balance, and fall risk in children with diplegic cerebral palsy. <br><br>DESIGN: Thirty children with diplegic cerebral palsy were selected for this randomized controlled study. They were randomly assigned to (1) an experimental group that received antigravity treadmill training (20 mins/d, 3 d/wk) together with traditional physical therapy for 3 successive mos and (2) a control group that received only traditional physical therapy program for the same period. Outcomes included selected gait parameters, postural stability, and fall risk. Outcomes were measured at baseline and after 3 mos of intervention. <br><br>RESULTS: Children in both groups showed significant improvements in the mean values of all measured variables (P < 0.05), with significantly greater improvements in the experimental group than the control group. The posttreatment gait parameters (i.e., velocity, stride length, cadence, and percent of time spent in double-limb support) were 0.74 m/sec, 119 steps/min, 0.75 m/sec, 0.65 sec, and 55.9% as well as 0.5 m, 125 steps/min, 0.6 m/sec, 0.49 sec, and 50.4% for the experimental and control group, respectively. <br><br>CONCLUSIONS: Antigravity treadmill training may be a useful tool for improving gait parameters, balance, and fall risk in children with diplegic cerebral palsy.<p />  <p>Language: en</p>
LA  - en
SN  - 0894-9115
UR  - http://dx.doi.org/10.1097/PHM.0000000000000752
ID  - ref1
ER  -