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Abstract

Background. Virtual reality and balancing beam are widely acknowledged as a highly successful approach for improving balance as well as walking performance among children suffering from hemiplegic cerebral palsy (CP). Purpose. The aim of this study was to compare between the impact of virtual reality and balance beam on walking performance (balance and functional walking capacity) in children with hemiplegic CP. Subjects and methods. A total of seventy-five children with hemiplegic CP, comprising 31 boys and 44 girls, aged between 7 and 11 years of both genders, were included in this study. The participants were allocated randomly into three groups (n = 25), A (control group) and B, C (study groups). All children received designed physical therapy programs based on neurodevelopmental technique, in addition to balance and gait training exercises for control group A, virtual reality training for group B and balance beam training for group C. The treatment program was administered to each group three times weekly for three consecutive months, lasting one hour each session. All children were examined clinically pre- and post-treatment using HUMAC balance and tilt system, and 6- minutes walking test (6mWT) to assess balance, walking functional capacity respectively. Results. There was a significant improvement in balance and 6MWT of three groups post treatment when contrasted with that pretreatment (p < 0.001). Furthermore, group B and C's measured variables showed a substantial improvement over group A's when compared (p < 0.01), while group B and C did not differ significantly (p > 0.05). Conclusions. Virtual reality and balance beam training have an effective influence on the improvement of balance and walking performance.