Loading Gait in Spatic Cerebral Palsy (SCP)

Immediate Effects of a Single Treadmill Gait Training Session With Additional Loading on Kinematic Gait Parameters in Children With Spastic Cerebral Palsy

The purpose of this study is to observe the behavior of kinematic variables in children with spastic hemiparetic cerebral palsy (SHCP), immediately after treadmill gait training with ankle loading.

The children underwent a single treadmill training session with ankle loading. The kinematic parameters were assessed in three phases: before training (PRE); immediately after training (POST); and 5 minutes after the end of training (FOLLOW UP).

The investigators hypothesized that the treadmill gait training with additional lower limb loading would be a disturbance capable of modifying the locomotor strategy of children with SHCP, by the increase in kinematic parameters in the swing phase of gait.

Study Overview

• Status: Completed
• Conditions: Spastic Hemiplegic Cerebral Palsy
• Intervention / Treatment: Other: Single treadmill gait training with additional loading

• Study Type: Interventional
• Enrollment (Actual): 20
• Phase: Not Applicable

Contacts and Locations

Study Locations

• Brazil
  • RN
    • Natal, RN, Brazil, 59072-970
      • Universidade Federal do Rio Grande do Norte

Participation Criteria

Eligibility Criteria

• Ages Eligible for Study: 5 years to 13 years (CHILD)
• Accepts Healthy Volunteers: No
• Genders Eligible for Study: All

Description

Inclusion Criteria:

• Spastic Hemiparetic Cerebral Palsy;
• Being able to walk without an assistive device (levels I or II of the Gross Motor Function Classification System - GMFCS);
• Not having undergone muscle lengthening surgery within the previous year;
• Not having applied botulin toxin to the lower limbs or serial casting in the previous 6 months.

Exclusion Criteria:

• Inability to understand simple commands to perform the training and evaluation;
• Inability to walk on the treadmill with or without load on the lower limbs;
• Presence of any physical pain or discomfort during the course of training.

Study Plan

How is the study designed?

Design Details

• Primary Purpose: TREATMENT
• Allocation: NA
• Interventional Model: SINGLE_GROUP
• Masking: NONE

Number of Arms

1

Arms and Interventions

Participant Group / Arm	Intervention / Treatment
EXPERIMENTAL: Spastic Hemiparetic Cerebral Palsy; Single treadmill gait training with additional loading	Other: Single treadmill gait training with additional loading

What is the study measuring?

Primary Outcome Measures

Outcome Measure	Measure Description	Time Frame
Changes in kinematic gait parameters after treadmill trainning with ankles loading	Kinematic gait data were captured by Qualisys Track Manager 1.6.0.x - QTM software and exported to Visual3D processing software, to reconstruct the segments and create a biomechanical model. It was carried out in two stages: static and dynamic collection. The dynamic collection was performed while the children walked on the electric treadmill. The primary outcome measure was the following spatiotemporal variables at the POST phase: cadence (steps/min), stride length (m), paretic step length (m), stance time (%), swing time (%) paretic lower limb (PLL), double stance (%), symmetry ratio and stance/swing time ratio. With respect to angular variables, the following parameters was analysed: angular displacement (maximum flexion, maximum extension and range of motion) of the hip and knee were investigated (º).	Immediately after training with ankles loading (POST phase)

Secondary Outcome Measures

Outcome Measure	Measure Description	Time Frame
Changes in kinematic gait parameters after five minutes of rest	Kinematic gait data were captured by Qualisys Track Manager 1.6.0.x - QTM software and exported to Visual3D processing software, to reconstruct the segments and create a biomechanical model. It was carried out in two stages: static and dynamic collection. The dynamic collection was performed while the children walked on the electric treadmill. The secundary outcome measure was the same spatiotemporal and angular variables investigated at the POST phase although in this condition they was analysed at FOLLOW UP phase.	After five minutes of rest (FOLLOW UP phase)

Collaborators and Investigators

• Sponsor: Universidade Federal do Rio Grande do Norte
• Collaborators: Coordenação de Aperfeiçoamento de Pessoal de Nível Superior.
• Investigators: Principal Investigator: Camila R Simão, MSc, Universidade Federal do Rio Grande do Norte

Publications and helpful links

Helpful Links

• Cerebral palsy
• Gait training

Study record dates

Study Major Dates

• Study Start: September 1, 2012
• Primary Completion (ACTUAL): October 1, 2012
• Study Completion (ACTUAL): November 1, 2012

Study Registration Dates

• First Submitted: December 5, 2013
• First Submitted That Met QC Criteria: December 9, 2013
• First Posted (ESTIMATE): December 13, 2013

Study Record Updates

• Last Update Posted (ESTIMATE): December 16, 2013
• Last Update Submitted That Met QC Criteria: December 13, 2013
• Last Verified: December 1, 2013

More Information

Terms related to this study

• Keywords: Rehabilitation; Gait; Cerebral palsy; Weight Bearing
• Additional Relevant MeSH Terms: Brain Diseases; Central Nervous System Diseases; Nervous System Diseases; Neurologic Manifestations; Brain Damage, Chronic; Musculoskeletal Diseases; Muscular Diseases; Neuromuscular Manifestations; Muscle Hypertonia; Cerebral Palsy; Paralysis; Muscle Spasticity
• Other Study ID Numbers: CEP-UFRN 76519/2012