Treadmill Training with Virtual Reality Improves Gait, Balance, and Muscle Strength in Children with Cerebral Palsy

Treadmill Training with Virtual Reality Improves Gait, Balance, and Muscle Strength in Children with Cerebral Palsy

CHUNHEE CHO,¹ WONJEONG HWANG,¹ SUJIN HWANG² and YIJUNG CHUNG³

¹Department of Physical Therapy, The Graduate School, Sahmyook University, Seoul, Republic of Korea
²Department of Physical Therapy, Baekseok University, Choenan, Republic of Korea
³Department of Physical Therapy, College of Health and Welfare, Sahmyook University, Seoul, Republic of Korea

Independent walking is an important goal of clinical and community-based rehabilitation for children with cerebral palsy (CP). Virtual reality-based rehabilitation therapy is effective in motivating children with CP. This study investigated the effects of treadmill training with virtual reality on gait, balance, muscular strength, and gross motor function in children with CP. Eighteen children with spastic CP were randomly divided into the virtual reality treadmill training (VRTT) group (9 subjects, mean age, 10.2 years) and treadmill training (TT) group (9 subjects, mean age, 9.4 years). The groups performed their respective programs as well as conventional physical therapy 3 times/week for 8 weeks. Muscle strength was assessed using a digitalized manual muscle tester. Gross motor function was assessed using the Gross Motor Functional Measure (GMFM). Balance was assessed using the Pediatric Balance Scale (PBS). Gait speed was assessed using the 10-meter walk test (10MWT), and gait endurance was assessed using the 2-minute walk test (2MWT). After training, gait and balance was improved in the VRTT compared to the TT group (P < 0.05). Muscular strength was significantly greater in the VRTT group than the TT group, except for right hamstring strength. The improvements in GMFM (standing) and PBS scores were greater in the VRTT group than the TT group (P < 0.05). Furthermore, the VRTT group showed the higher values of 10MWT and 2MWT compared to the TT group (P < 0.05). In conclusion, VRTT programs are effective for improving gait, balance, muscular strength, and gross motor function in children with CP.

keywords —— balance; cerebral palsy; gait; muscular strength; treadmill training

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Tohoku J. Exp. Med., 2016, 238, 213-218

Correspondence: Yijung Chung, P.T., Ph.D., Department of Physical Therapy, College of Health and Welfare, Sahmyook University, 26-21 Gongneung2-dong, Nowon-gu, Seoul 139-742, Republic of Korea.

e-mail: yijung36@syu.ac.kr