Effect of Pedal Training on Gait Speed in Children With Hemiparetic Cerebral Palsy

Abstract

Background: Cerebral palsy is associated with impairment in functional performance, balance and gait Objective: Slow walking speed represents the major functional problems in children with cerebral palsy; our aim was to improve the average speed of gait by increasing the number of repetitive cycles by pedaling.Design: Biodex gait trainer was used to assess average walking speed and step length in twenty hemiparetic cerebral palsy children, who were divided into study and control groups. Both groups had received the prescribed rehabilitation program. Study group had received 20-min pedal exercise in addition to the exercise program.Results: In post treatment results, there was significant improvement in speed for both groups in favor to study group and a significant improvement in step length in the study group, with non-significant improvement in step length in the control group. Conclusion:Adding pedal exercise to the rehabilitation program for children with hemiparetic cerebral palsy causes improvement in walking average speed.