Treadmill Training at Variable Inclinations in Children With Cerebral Palsy
Condition: Cerebral Palsy
MeSH terms: Cerebral Palsy
Study type: Interventional

Summary: 
      This study aimed to evaluate the effect of treadmill training (TT) at different inclinations
      on balance, strength, flexibility, and gait parameters in children with cerebral palsy (CP)
      in addition to traditional physiotherapy applications.

      Forty-two participants with CP aged 7-18 years and at Gross Motor Function Classification
      System level 2 were randomized into three groups: downhill walking (DW), uphill walking (UW),
      and walking with no incline (WWI). Balance, isometric strength, flexibility, and gait
      parameters were assessed at baseline (2nd week) and at 11th week. The groups were provided
      with TT and conventional treatment.

      All groups showed improvement in balance. Isometric strength values showed improvement in
      knee flexion (KF) on the affected side (AS) in DW and UW groups, and in knee extension force
      in UW and WWI groups. In flexibility, hip flexion, hip extension and ankle dorsiflexion
      improved in all groups, while KF and ankle plantar flexion improved only in DW and WWI.
      Duration of the modified timed up-and-go test showed significant improvements in the DW and
      UW groups.

      TT performed at different inclinations improved balance, isometric strength, flexibility, and
      gait parameters on both the AS and the nonaffected side.
    

Detailed description: 
      TT is a therapeutic technique in the rehabilitation of children with CP. Positive effects of
      different TT protocols have been observed in patients with CP; however, there is no study
      examining the effects of forward downhill TT. Therefore, this study aimed to investigate the
      effect of TT with forward downhill walking (DW), forward uphill walking (UW), and forward
      walking with no incline (WWI) on balance, strength, flexibility, and gait parameters in
      7-18-year-old children with hemiparetic and diparetic CP in addition to traditional
      physiotherapy applications.

      Sixty-four participants were initially recruited in this study. However, 42 participants (18
      female, 24 male) with hemiparetic and diparetic CP completed the study. The study was
      conducted in a Special Education and Rehabilitation Center in Denizli, Turkey between April
      2021 and June 2022. The inclusion criteria for the study were (a) age between 7-18 yrs old,
      (b) being at Gross Motor Functional Classification System (GMFCS) levels II, (c) no
      cooperation problems that would interfere with communication, (d) no surgical treatment or
      neuromuscular injection in the last 6 months (e) no unstoppable epileptic seizures, (f)
      asymmetric lower extremity shortness >4 cm and no any health problems except CP. Exclusion
      criteria from the study were trauma during the study period, not participating in the
      exercise program by more than 20%, willing to quit voluntarily, having a spasticity ≥2 on the
      Modified Ashworth Scale (MAS) measured from the lower extremity All parents/guardians agreed
      to the participation of their children by signing a statement of informed consent. The
      investigation was approved by the Pamukkale University Clinical Research Ethics Committee
      (60116787-020-35801/24.03.2021). All procedures were realized in according to the Declaration
      of Helsinki.

      To ensure that the gender and age distributions to be observed in the groups were similar, a
      randomization table was prepared by stratified randomization method before the study.

      All participants received a conventional physiotherapy program for 2 days/week, 40 min/day
      for 8 weeks. In addition to this program, the first group performed DW TT, the second group
      performed UW TT, and the third group performed WWI TT walking exercise on the treadmill for 2
      days/week, 30 min/day on different days. At the beginning and end of the 8-week program, the
      participants' lower extremity isometric strength was assessed using a hand-held dynamometer,
      dynamic balance was assessed using a functional reach test (FRT), flexibility was assessed
      range of motion (ROM) using a goniometer, and gait performance was assessed using a
      spatiotemporal gait analyzer. All measurements included familiarization trials. Conventional
      physiotherapy program, walking exercises, and measurements were conducted in standard
      conditions (22-25 °C, 25%-45% relative humidity) during the morning hours in a quiet room by
      the same physiotherapist.
    

Intervention name(s): downhill walking; uphill walking; walking with no incline
Intervention type(s): Other; Other; Other
Intervention description(s): All participants received a conventional physiotherapy program for 2 days/week, 40 min/day for 8 weeks. In addition to this program, the first group performed downhill walking exercise on the treadmill for 2 days/week, 30 min/day on different days.; All participants received a conventional physiotherapy program for 2 days/week, 40 min/day for 8 weeks. In addition to this program, the second group performed uphill walking exercise on the treadmill for 2 days/week, 30 min/day on different days.; All participants received a conventional physiotherapy program for 2 days/week, 40 min/day for 8 weeks. In addition to this program, the third group performed walking with no incline walking exercise on the treadmill for 2 days/week, 30 min/day on different days.
Allocation: Randomized
Intervention model: Parallel Assignment
Masking: None (Open Label)
Primary purpose: Treatment