Effects of robot-assisted gait training alongside conventional therapy on the development of walking in children with cerebral palsy

Abstract

Purpose: To investigate the effects of robot-assisted gait training (RAGT) alongside conventional therapy on the standing and walking abilities of children with cerebral palsy (CP).

Methods: The study sample consisted of children (aged 4-18 years) with CP whose gross motor function classification system (GMFCS) was at levels I-V. In total, 75 children with CP were evaluated and 38 patients completed the study. Patients were divided into two groups as GMFCS levels I-III (Group 1) and levels IV-V (Group 2). RAGT (30 min/session) and conventional physiotherapy (30 min/session) were applied together in the treatment. The treatment duration was 60 min per session, 3 or 4 sessions per week, for a total of 30 sessions over 8-10 weeks. 10-meter walk test (10MWT), 6-min walk test (6MinWT), gross motor functional measurement 66 (GMFM66) -D, and -E tests were performed.

Results: We showed that in both groups of CP patients (mild-moderate and severe), meaningful improvements were seen in the standing (D) and walking (E) sections of GMFM-66 after treatment. When we compared the post-treatment changes in 10-m walk test, 6-min walk test, GMFM66-D, and -E between Groups 1 and 2, we noted that the improvements were statistically significant in favor of Group 1 (p< 0.01).

Conclusion: RAGT in combination with a conventional treatment program was significantly associated with improvements in the standing and walking abilities of children with mild to moderate CP (GMFCS levels I-III).

Keywords: Cerebral palsy; gait; rehabilitation; robot; therapyImplications for rehabilitation:•Robot-assisted gait training (RAGT) in addition to conventional treatment might contribute significantly to improvements in the standing and walking abilities of children with cerebral palsy (CP).•Children with mild to moderate CP had more significant improvements in standing and walking ability than did those who were severely affected after RAGT with conventional therapy.; training.