Short-burst interval treadmill training walking capacity and performance in cerebral palsy: a pilot study.

a Seattle Children's Research Institute , University of Washington , Seattle , WA , United States of America.b Department of Physical Therapy , Louisiana State University Health Sciences Center , New Orleans , LA , United States of America.c Physical Medicine and Rehabilitation , University of Colorado , Denver , CO , United States of America.

Developmental neurorehabilitation. 2019;(2):126-133

Abstract

PURPOSE To examine the effect of short-burst interval locomotor treadmill training (SBLTT) on walking capacity and performance in cerebral palsy (CP). METHODS Twelve children with spastic diplegic CP (average 8.6 years) across Gross Motor Function Classification System levels II (8) and III (4) were randomized to 20 SBLTT sessions over 4 or 10 weeks. SBLTT consisted of alternating 30 seconds of slow and fast walking for 30 minutes/session. Outcomes included the 10 m walk test, one-minute walk test (1MWT), and timed-up-and go (TUG) (capacity) and StepWatch (performance) collected at baseline, post, and 6 weeks post. RESULTS Fast speed (+.11, p = .04; +.11 m/s, p = .006), 1MWT (+11.2; +11.7 m, p = .006) and TUG (-1.7; -1.9 seconds, p = .006) improved post SBLTT and 6 weeks, respectively. Walking performance increased: average strides/day (+948; +1712, p < .001) and percent time in high strides rates (+0.4, p = 0.07; +0.2, p = .008). CONCLUSIONS Pilot study suggests SBLTT may improve short-term walking capacity and performance.

Methodological quality

Publication Type : Randomized Controlled Trial

Metadata