Objective  

Body  Weight  Supported  Treadmill  Training  and  Cerebral  Palsy:  A  Literature  Review    

   

Abstract  

Nahida  Sultana    College  of  Nursing  and  Health  Professions  Advisor:  Masaru  Teramoto,  PhD,  MPH  

Department  of  Health  Sciences    

Cerebral  palsy  (CP)  is  a  congenital  disorder  with  unknown  causes  that  affects  the  movement  or  muscle  tone  of  children.  Currently  researchers  are  investigating  to  improve  the  locomotion  of  CP  patients  via  body  weight  supported  treadmill  training  (BWSTT)  in  which  the  upper  extremity  of  the  patients  are  supported  while  patients  are  running  on  the  treadmill.  Common  tests  used  to  obtain  data  from  the  trials  were  Gross  Motor  Function  Measure  (GMFM)  and  Pediatric  Evaluation  of  Disability  Inventory  (PEDI).    The  trials  reviewed  had  very  similar  results  with  the  data  portraying  that  BWSTT  helps  to  improve  locomotion  in  children.    None  of  the  studies  reported  any  complications  by  the  participants  and  neither  did  the  disorder  get  worse.  

Conclusion  

References  

http://www.cpl.org.au/images/default-­‐source/research/cp-­‐body-­‐map-­‐graphics.jpg?sfvrsn=2  

The  objectives  of  the  studies  were  to  determine  whether  BWSTT  increased/improved  the  locomotion  in  children  diagnosed  with  CP.  

http://www.rehab.research.va.gov/jour/00/37/6/images/COLO-­‐F02.GIF  

Body  Weight  Supported  Treadmill  Training  showed  improvement  amongst  the  children  diagnosed  with  cerebral  palsy  in  their  locomotion.  The  studies  done  were  mostly  pilot  studies  that  are  not  reliable  for  long-­‐term  effectiveness.  Each  study  presented  positive  outcomes  with  minimal  signs  of  negative  effects  on  the  CP  children.  Some  errors  could  have  been  from  measurements  in  areas  such  as  the  questionnaires  or  the  GMFM.  Further  studies  with  greater  number  of  participants  are  needed  to  account  for  long-­‐term  effects.      

D.  M.  Begnoche  and  K.  H.  Pitetti.  "Effects  of  Traditional  Treatment  and  Partial  Body  Weight  Treadmill  Training  on  the  Motor  Skills  of  Children  With  Spastic  Cerebral  Palsy:  A  Pilot  Study."  Pediatric  Physical  Therapy  19.1  (2007):  11-­‐19,  N.p.:  Lippincott  Williams  &  Wilkins.  Web.      K.  Mattern-­‐Baxter,  S.  Bellamy,  and  J.  K.  Mansoor.  "Effects  of  Intensive  Locomotor  Treadmill  Training  on  Young  Children  with  Cerebral  Palsy."  Pediatric  Physical  Therapy,  21.4  (2009):  308-­‐18.  N.p.:  Lippincott  Williams  &  Wilkins,  Inc.  Web.          

Results  Improvements  were  shown  in  each  study  by  various  

measurement  tools  used  such  as  the  Growth  Motor  Function  Measurement  (GMFM),  Pediatric  Evaluation  of  Disability  Inventory  (PEDI),  and  surveys  taken  by  the  care  provider  as  well  as  the  patient.    § Study  1:    CP  children  between  the  ages  of  9  to  36  

months  showed  improvement  in  locomotion  both  post-­‐intervention  and  pre-­‐intervention  with  the  pre-­‐intervention  resulting  in  faster  improvement  

§ Study  2:    9  participants  between  8-­‐16  took  part  in  LBPPS,  15%  increase  in  patients  walking  speed.  No  significant  improvement  was  shown  in  over-­‐all  step,  stride  or  balance.  Outlier  (hemiplegic  child)  showed  reverse  effect  with  slower  walking  speed.  

§ Study  3:    Comparison  between  post-­‐intervention  and  pre-­‐intervention  showed  improvement  in  gait  performances  

§ Study  4:  Showed  correlation  between  gait  improvement  and  increase  in  step  length.    

§ Study  5:  6  participants  between  ages  2-­‐4  showed  improvement  in  gross  motor  function  skills  related  to  standing  and  walking