Effects of Antigravity Treadmill Training on Gait, Balance, and Fall Risk in Children With Diplegic Cerebral Palsy

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.

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.

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.

Conclusions: Antigravity treadmill training may be a useful tool for improving gait parameters, balance, and fall risk in children with diplegic cerebral palsy.