Robot-assisted gait training in children with cerebral palsy: a randomized comparative study

Abstract

OBJECTIVE: The primary aim of this study was to evaluate the effect of robot-assisted gait training (RAGT) in addition to conventional therapy (ConT) on gross motor function in children with cerebral palsy (CP) compared to ConT alone. METHODS: A total of 57 children (5-18 years) were randomly assigned to one of two groups, and then evaluated four times: before and immediately after treatment, then at 6 and 12 weeks using the Gross Motor Function Measure-88 (GMFM-88). RESULTS: Only the ConT+RAGT group showed improvement in GMFM-D and total score and GAS between T1-T2 and T1-T4, whereas both groups showed improvement in GMFM-E at all time points. CONCLUSIONS: It was concluded that RAGT in addition to ConT improves gross motor function in CP.