Body Weight Supported Treadmill Training and Cerebral Palsy: A Literature Review Nahida Sultana College of Nursing and Health Professions Advisor: Masaru Teramoto, PhD, MPH Department of Health Sciences Abstract Cerebral palsy (CP) is a congenital disorder with unknown causes that affects the movement or muscle tone of children. Currently researchers are investigating to improve the locomotion of CP patients via body weight supported treadmill training (BWSTT) in which the upper extremity of the patients are supported while patients are running on the treadmill. Common tests used to obtain data from the trials were Gross Motor Function Measure (GMFM) and Pediatric Evaluation of Disability Inventory (PEDI). The trials reviewed had very similar results with the data portraying that BWSTT helps to improve locomotion in children. None of the studies reported any complications by the participants and neither did the disorder get worse. Objective The objectives of the studies were to determine whether BWSTT increased/improved the locomotion in children diagnosed with CP. http://www.cpl.org.au/images/default-­‐
source/research/cp-­‐body-­‐map-­‐graphics.jpg?sfvrsn=2 http://www.rehab.research.va.gov/jour/00/37/6/images
/COLO-­‐F02.GIF Results Improvements were shown in each study by various measurement tools used such as the Growth Motor Function Measurement (GMFM), Pediatric Evaluation of Disability Inventory (PEDI), and surveys taken by the care provider as well as the patient. § Study 1: CP children between the ages of 9 to 36 months showed improvement in locomotion both post-­‐intervention and pre-­‐intervention with the pre-­‐
intervention resulting in faster improvement § Study 2: 9 participants between 8-­‐16 took part in LBPPS, 15% increase in patients walking speed. No significant improvement was shown in over-­‐all step, stride or balance. Outlier (hemiplegic child) showed reverse effect with slower walking speed. § Study 3: Comparison between post-­‐intervention and pre-­‐intervention showed improvement in gait performances § Study 4: Showed correlation between gait improvement and increase in step length. § Study 5: 6 participants between ages 2-­‐4 showed improvement in gross motor function skills related to standing and walking Conclusion Body Weight Supported Treadmill Training showed improvement amongst the children diagnosed with cerebral palsy in their locomotion. The studies done were mostly pilot studies that are not reliable for long-­‐term effectiveness. Each study presented positive outcomes with minimal signs of negative effects on the CP children. Some errors could have been from measurements in areas such as the questionnaires or the GMFM. Further studies with greater number of participants are needed to account for long-­‐term effects. References D. M. Begnoche and K. H. Pitetti. "Effects of Traditional Treatment and Partial Body Weight Treadmill Training on the Motor Skills of Children With Spastic Cerebral Palsy: A Pilot Study." Pediatric Physical Therapy 19.1 (2007): 11-­‐19, N.p.: Lippincott Williams & Wilkins. Web. K. Mattern-­‐Baxter, S. Bellamy, and J. K. Mansoor. "Effects of Intensive Locomotor Treadmill Training on Young Children with Cerebral Palsy." Pediatric Physical Therapy, 21.4 (2009): 308-­‐18. N.p.: Lippincott Williams & Wilkins, Inc. Web.