The weight of an external breast prosthesis for women after mastectomy may not be crucial when choosing a proper prosthesis.

Background: Gait dysfunction is a crucial factor that restricts independence and quality of life in children with cerebral palsy (CP). Gait training based on robotic-assisted therapy (RAT) is widely used, but information about effectiveness and ideal patient profile is not sufficient. Aim of this study was to assess the effect of RAT on gait parameters in spastic children with CP, and to determine whether changes in gait parameters are different among patients on different ambulatory levels.Method: A total of 26 children with bilateral spastic CP were divided into two groups based on their functional ability: non-assisted ambulator (NAS) or assisted ambulator (AS); and underwent a RAT program (30 training sessions of RAT during 10 weeks). Gait analysis was performed: before the therapy (t1), right after (t2), and 6 weeks later (t3).Results: No significant changes in spatiotemporal parameters or gait deviation index at t2 or t3. Double support symmetry significantly improved (t1 vs. t3, p = 0.03) for the whole group (NAS + AS). Walking speed symmetry significantly improved (t2 vs. t3, p = 0.02) for group AS.Conclusion: RAT based on our protocol did not change spatiotemporal parameters and kinematics of walking except limited improvement in some aspects of gait symmetry. We did not find differences in changes in selected objective gait parameters among children with CP in different ambulatory levels.

In pediatric research studies, instrumental MVC should be preferred over MMT scoring. Also, MMT score groups higher than 3 should be modified in clinical testing of children and adolescents with cerebral palsy.

Clinical practitioners should be aware of the study results suggesting a positive influence of breast prosthesis use on gait parameters after mastectomy surgery, which could improve the patient's functional status after surgery; however, further research is still needed on factors affecting changes in gait with a larger study population.

STRESZCZENIEWstęp. U dzie ci opóź nio nych w roz wo ju ru cho wym udo wod nio no po zy tyw ny wpływ hi po te ra pii na po pra wę naj trud niej szych funk cji ru cho wych, ta kich jak: bie ga nie, ska ka nie, po pra wę rów no wa gi i ko or dy na cji. Ce lem pra cy by ła oce na wpły wu hi po te ra pii na wy bra ne pa ra me try cza so wo -prze strzen ne cy ku cho du u cho dzą ce go dziec ka z mó -zgo wym po ra że niem.Ma te riał i me to dy . Ma te riał ba dań sta no wi ło 16 cho dzą cych dzie ci z mó zgo wym po ra że niem dzie cię cym (10 dziew czy nek i 6 chłop ców), w wie ku od 5,7 lat do 17,5 (śred nia: 13,2), za kwa li fi ko wa nych na hi po te ra pię. Ana li zie pod da no pod sta wo we pa ra me try cza so wo -prze strzen ne cho du (szyb kość cho du, czę sto tli wość, dłu gość kro ku, czas je go trwa nia, oraz sy me tria) zbie ra ne przy po mo cy ak ce le ro me tru Dy na Port. Ba da nie wy ko na ne zo sta ło dwu krot nie: przed i bez po śred nio po se sji hi po te ra peu tycz nej. Do we ry fi ka cji ró żnic mię dzy wy ni ka mi po mia rów, uzy ska ny mi pod czas ba dań wstęp nych i koń co wych, za sto so wa no test ko lej no ści par Wil co xo na.Wy ni ki. Po se sji hi po te ra peu tycz nej stwier dzo no istot ną sta ty stycz nie zmia nę pręd ko ści cho du. Za ob ser wo wa no zbli że nie po zo sta łych ba da nych pa ra me trów do war to ści re fe ren cyj nych dla wie ku; je dy nie pa ra metr opi su ją cy dłu -gość kro ku uległ po gor sze niu -zmia ny te nie by ły istot ne sta ty stycz nie.Wnio sek. Jed no ra zo wa se sja hi po te ra peu tycz na mo że mieć istot ny wpływ na nor ma li za cję pręd ko ści cho du u dziec ka z mó zgo wym po ra że niem.Słowa kluczowe: analiza chodu, akcelerometr, fizjoterapia SUMMARY Background. Hippotherapy has been shown to produce beneficial effects by improving the most difficult motor functions, such as sitting, running, jumping, coordination, as well as balance and muscle strength in children with motor developmental delays. The aim of this study was to analyze the effect of hippotherapy on spatiotemporal parameters of gait in cerebrally palsied children.Material and methods. 16 ambulatory cerebrally palsied children (GMFCS Level I-III; Female: 10, Male: 6; Age: 5.7-17.5 years old) qualified for hippotherapy were investigated. Basic spatiotemporal parameters of gait, including walking speed, cadence, step length, stride length and the left-right symmetry, were collected using a threedimensional accelerometer device (DynaPort MiniMod) before and immediately after a hippotherapy session. The Wilcoxon test was used to verify the differences between pre-and post-session results.Results. Changes of walking speed were statistically significant. With the exception of step length, all spatiotemporal parameters improved, i.e. were closer to the respective reference ranges after the session. However, these changes were not statistically significant.Conclusion. One session of hippotherapy may have a significant effect on the spatiotemporal parameters of gait in cerebrally palsied children.