Effects of traditional treatment and partial body weight treadmill training on the motor skills of children with spastic cerebral palsy. A pilot study.
OBJECTIVE
This study was designed to examine the effects of intensive traditional physical therapy treatment methods combined with partial body weight treadmill training (PBWTT) on motor and ambulatory skills of children with cerebral palsy.


METHODS
Five children (2.3 to 9.7 years) with cerebral palsy participated in a therapy program for four weeks, three to four sessions per week, for two hours per session. Outcomes were measured using the Gross Motor Function Measure, Pediatric Evaluation of Disability Inventory, pedographs, and the Timed 10-Meter Walk Test.


RESULTS
Wilcoxon paired-sample tests and percent changes showed a significant (p < 0.05) decrease in mean step length differences. Results indicate improvements in motor and ambulatory skills of individual children indicating positive measurable outcomes of intensive physical therapy with partial body weight treadmill training.


CONCLUSIONS
An intensive episode of physical therapy of reasonable frequency and duration that includes partial body weight treadmill training may be effective in improving motor skills of children with spastic CP.
Begnoche
Denise M
DM
Heartspring, Wichita, Kansas 67226, USA. dbegnoche@heartspring.org
Pitetti
Ken H
KH
D000203:Activities of Daily Living; D001835:Body Weight; D002547:Cerebral Palsy / Q000503:physiopathology* / Q000534:rehabilitation*; D002648:Child; D002675:Child, Preschool; D003131:Combined Modality Therapy; D004185:Disability Evaluation; D005081:Exercise Therapy / Q000379:methods*; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D009048:Motor Skills / Q000502:physiology*; D026741:Physical Therapy Modalities; D010865:Pilot Projects; D018709:Statistics, Nonparametric; D016896:Treatment Outcome