Treadmill versus Overground Walking and CP

Clinical Rehabilitation has published research comparing the effects of a 7 week treadmill training or overground walking program for children with cerebral palsy.  There was 36 participants in the study with cerebral palsy levels I-III on the Gross Motor Functional Classification System who were randomly assigned to the treadmill or overground walking group.  They completed a 7 week, 2 sessions per week, program in the physical therapy clinic.  The results indicated the following:

• both groups showed improvements on the 6 Minute walk test, timed up-and-go test, Pediatric Evaluation Disability Inventory, Gross Motor Function Measure-88, and the Berg Balance Scale. 
• the treadmill training group showed greater improvements both after treatment and during follow up sessions

The researchers concluded that treadmill training was more effective than training with overground walking with respect to functional mobility, functional performance, gross motor function and functional balance in children with cerebral palsy.

Reference: Grecco LA, Zanon N, Sampaio LM, Oliveira CS. A comparison of treadmill training and overground walking in ambulant children with cerebral palsy: randomized controlled clinical trial. Clin Rehabil. 2013 Mar 15. [Epub ahead of print] 

Treadmill Training in Adolescents with CP

Recent research compared two groups of adolescents with cerebral palsy.  One group was randomly assigned to treadmill training, 3 times per week, for 12 weeks.  The other group participated in traditional physical therapy sessions (3x/ week for 12 weeks) which included mat activities, balance training, gait training and functional gross motor activities.  Post test results indicated a significant difference in self selected walking speed and gross motor function.  The researchers concluded that treadmill training may improve walking speed and gross motor function in adolescents with cerebral palsy.

Reference:  Chrysagis N, Skordilis EK, Stavrou N, Grammatopoulou E, Koutsouki D. The effect of treadmill training on gross motor function and walking speed in ambulatory adolescents with
cerebral palsy: a randomized controlled trial. Am J Phys Med Rehabil. 2012 Sep;91(9):747-60.

Interesting New Treadmill

Came across this new treadmill they are using in the Netherlands for adult rehabilitation.  Images are projected onto the treadmill as obstacles or targets.  This would be great in pediatrics.  Check out this You Tube video. 

Home Treadmill Training and Spina Bifada

Recent research was published on a home treadmill training program for children with spina bifada. Eighteen children were assigned to the experimental group who participated in a 12 week, 2 times per week, home based progressive treadmill training program. The 14 children in the control group had their usual care for the 12 weeks. The home based treadmill training program resulted in significant changes in the 6 minute walking tests, peak speed, gross energy consumption and VO2peak. Long term results (3 months post intervention) were still seen with ambulation but only a short term effect with VO2peak.

Reference: Janke F. de Groot et. al. Randomized Controlled Study of Home-Based Treadmill Training for Ambulatory Children With Spina Bifida Neurorehabil Neural Repair September 2011 25: 597-606, first published on March 17, 2011 doi:10.1177/1545968311400094