Effectiveness of robot-assisted gait training in children with cerebral palsy: a bicenter, pragmatic, randomized, cross-over trial (PeLoGAIT).

Journal: BMC pediatrics
Published Date:

Abstract

BACKGROUND: Walking ability is a priority for many children with cerebral palsy (CP) and their parents when considering domains of importance regarding treatment interventions. Partial body-weight supported treadmill training has become an established therapeutic treatment approach to address this demand. Further, new robotic rehabilitation technologies have increasingly been implemented in the clinical setting to allow for longer training sessions with increased step repetitions while maintaining a consistent movement pattern. But the current evidence about its clinical effectiveness in pediatric rehabilitation is weak. The aim of this research project is therefore to investigate the effectiveness of robot-assisted gait training on improvements of functional gait parameters in children with cerebral palsy.

Authors

  • C Ammann-Reiffer
    Pediatric Rehab Research Group, Rehabilitation Center for Children and Adolescents, University Children's Hospital Zurich, Mühlebergstrasse 110, CH-8910, Affoltern am Albis, Switzerland. Corinne.ammann@kispi.uzh.ch.
  • C H G Bastiaenen
    Functioning and Rehabilitation, CAPHRI, Department of Epidemiology, Maastricht University, Maastricht, The Netherlands.
  • A D Meyer-Heim
    Pediatric Rehab Research Group, Rehabilitation Center for Children and Adolescents, University Children's Hospital Zurich, Mühlebergstrasse 110, CH-8910, Affoltern am Albis, Switzerland.
  • H J A van Hedel
    Pediatric Rehab Research Group, Rehabilitation Center for Children and Adolescents, University Children's Hospital Zurich, Mühlebergstrasse 110, CH-8910, Affoltern am Albis, Switzerland.