Anti-gravity treadmill training for children with cerebral palsy

Abstract

Background: Walking dysfunction in children with cerebral palsy (CP) contributes to significant limitations in participating properly in daily living activities. Various types of treadmills have emerged to address this obstacle such as the antigravity treadmill (AGT) which aims towards reducing the effect of gravity on its users. Aim: This systematic review examines the literature on the effectiveness of (AGT) on walking abilities in children with CP. Methods: Protocol registration (CRD42020164202) in April 2020 was followed by six electronic database searches for randomized clinical trials (RCTs), examining the effectiveness of AGT on walking and balancing abilities in children with CP. The included studies were assessed for quality using the Physiotherapy Evidence Database (PEDro) scale. Results: Three studies of good quality met the inclusion criteria. AGT was significantly associated with improved walking velocity and cadence, while stride length showed insignificant difference between groups (SMD= 0.07, 95%CI 0.06 to 0.08, p< 0.00001),(SMD= 12.29, 95%CI 9.58 to 14.99, p< 0.00001) and (SMD= 0.07, 95%CI -0.08 to 0.23, p< 0.36).