Three by three weeks of robot-enhanced repetitive gait therapy within a global rehabilitation plan improves gross motor development in children with cerebral palsy - a retrospective cohort study.

Three by three weeks of robot-enhanced repetitive gait therapy within a global rehabilitation plan improves gross motor development in children with cerebral palsy - a retrospective cohort study. Eur J Paediatr Neurol. 2019 May 18;: Authors: Weinberger R, Warken B, König H, Vill K, Gerstl L, Borggraefe I, Heinen F, von Kries R, Schroeder AS Abstract AIM: To assess the improvement in gross motor function following three blocks of a three-week, intensive robot-enhanced treadmill therapy (ROBERT-Program). METHOD: retrospective chart review in a before-after interventional trial in children with cerebral palsy attending a university hospital outpatient rehabilitation centre. Patients received three blocks of a three-week, 12 sessions ROBERT-Program over a mean period of 24 months. Outcome measures were block specific and cumulative improvement in GMFM 66, D and E. Longterm GMFM 66 improvements were compared to the individuals' expected increment as derived from previously published GMFM-66 percentiles. 95% confidence intervals (CI) and paired t-test were calculated. RESULTS: 20 children (8 GMFCS Level II; 12 GMFCS Level III, mean age 5.9 years (CI: [5.0; 6.7])) were treated. For each block a significant increase in motor performance in similar size could be observed without deterioration between blocks. The cumulative improvement during 21 months observation period was: 6.5 (CI: [4.8; 8.2]) in GMFM 66, which represents a...
Source: European Journal of Paediatric Neurology - Category: Neurology Authors: Tags: Eur J Paediatr Neurol Source Type: research