Effect of backward walking training on postural balance in children with hemiparetic cerebral palsy: a randomized controlled study.

OBJECTIVE

To study the effect of additional backward walking training on postural control in children with hemiparetic cerebral palsy.

DESIGN

Randomized controlled study.

SETTING

Physical therapy clinics.

SUBJECTS

Thirty spastic hemiparetic cerebral palsied children of both sexes (10-14 years, 14 girls and 16 boys).

INTERVENTION

Children were randomly assigned into two equal groups: experimental and control groups. Both groups received a traditional physical therapy program for 12 weeks. Experimental group additionally received backward walking training which was provided 25 min/day, 3 days/week for 3 successive months.

OUTCOME MEASURES

Baseline and post-treatment assessment for overall, anteroposterior, and mediolateral stability indices were evaluated by using Biodex balance system.

RESULTS

After treatment; two way ANOVA revealed significant improvement in overall, anteroposterior and mediolateral stability indices of experimental group at the most stable level (level 12) and moderately unstable level (level 7) (1.40 ± 0.44 and 1.73 ± 0.51; 1.11 ± 0.34 and 2.13 ± 0.52; 1.93 ± 0.51 and 2.68 ± 0.52) respectively, than control group (1.77 ± 0.44 and 2.17 ± 0.56; 1.44 ± 0.44 and 2.54 ± 0.49; 2.39 ± 0.65 and 3.11 ± 0.49) respectively, (P < 0.05). There were significant improvement in all measured variables for both groups at both levels (P < 0.05).

CONCLUSION

Additional backward walking training to traditional physical therapy program yields improvement in postural stability indices in children with spastic hemiparetic cerebral palsy than traditional physical therapy alone.