title: Effect of backward walking training on postural balance in children with hemiparetic cerebral palsy: a randomized controlled study.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  To study the effect of additional backward walking training on postural control in children with hemiparetic cerebral palsy.
  
  
  METHODS
  Randomized controlled study.
  
  
  METHODS
  Physical therapy clinics.
  
  
  METHODS
  Thirty spastic hemiparetic cerebral palsied children of both sexes (10-14 years, 14 girls and 16 boys).
  
  
  METHODS
  Children were randomly assigned into two equal groups: experimental and control groups. Both groups received a traditional physical therapy program for 12 weeks. Experimental group additionally received backward walking training which was provided 25 min/day, 3 days/week for 3 successive months.
  
  
  METHODS
  Baseline and post-treatment assessment for overall, anteroposterior, and mediolateral stability indices were evaluated by using Biodex balance system.
  
  
  RESULTS
  After treatment; two way ANOVA revealed significant improvement in overall, anteroposterior and mediolateral stability indices of experimental group at the most stable level (level 12) and moderately unstable level (level 7) (1.40 ± 0.44 and 1.73 ± 0.51; 1.11 ± 0.34 and 2.13 ± 0.52; 1.93 ± 0.51 and 2.68 ± 0.52) respectively, than control group (1.77 ± 0.44 and 2.17 ± 0.56; 1.44 ± 0.44 and 2.54 ± 0.49; 2.39 ± 0.65 and 3.11 ± 0.49) respectively, (P < 0.05). There were significant improvement in all measured variables for both groups at both levels (P < 0.05).
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Additional backward walking training to traditional physical therapy program yields improvement in postural stability indices in children with spastic hemiparetic cerebral palsy than traditional physical therapy alone.
authors.affiliation: Department of Physical Therapy for Growth and Developmental Disorders in Children and its Surgery, Faculty of Physical Therapy, Cairo University, Egypt Physical Therapy Department, College of Applied Medical Sciences, University of Dammam, Saudi Arabia.
authors.forename: Heba M Youssr
authors.initials: HM
authors.lastname: El-Basatiny
authors.affiliation: Department of Biomechanics, Faculty of Physical Therapy, Cairo University, Giza, Egypt amralmaz74@gmail.com.
authors.forename: Amr Almaz
authors.initials: AA
authors.lastname: Abdel-Aziem
mesh_terms: D000293:Adolescent; D002547:Cerebral Palsy / Q000150:complications / Q000503:physiopathology* / Q000534:rehabilitation*; D002648:Child; D005081:Exercise Therapy; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D010291:Paresis / Q000209:etiology / Q000503:physiopathology / Q000534:rehabilitation*; D004856:Postural Balance / Q000502:physiology*; D016896:Treatment Outcome; D016138:Walking
keywords: Cerebral palsy; backward walking; postural control