Effects of Gait Training with Added Load on Children with Hemiparetic Cerebral Palsy

Abstract

The study aimed to evaluate the immediate effects of treadmill training with leg load on kinematic parameters of gait in children with spastic hemiparetic cerebral palsy (SHCP). Quasi-experimental study. Laboratory of Intervention and Movement Analysis on Federal University of Rio Grande do Norte (UFRN). 20 children with SHCP clinical diagnosis (mean age was 8.8 years ± 2.39), and independent walk (GMFCS I-II). Children walked with added load on ankles in a single treadmill training session during 5 minutes. Kinematic parameters were evaluated using the Qualisys Motion Capture System in three phases: before training (FBT); immediately after training (FPT); and 5 minutes after the end of training (FET). Significant increase in range of motion on knee (F=8.654; P =.001) and hip joint (F=6.053; P=.005), maximum flexion in swing phase of knee (F=16.252; P<.001) and hip joint (F=7.876; P=.001) and the maximum height of the paretic leg during the swing phase (F=12.309; P<.001) were observed when comparing FBT versusFPT versus FET. The Bonferroni test identified that difference occurred when comparing phases FBTversus FPT and FPTversus FET. Gait training with leg load seems modifies the locomotor strategy for children with SHCP, suggesting that this therapy may benefit the gait of these children.