Efficacy of robotic-assisted gait training compared with intensive task-oriented physiotherapy for children with Cerebral Palsy

The purpose of this study was to evaluate if adding paediatric robotic-assisted gait training (RAGT) to task-oriented physiotherapy (TOP) in children with Cerebral Palsy (CP) could improve gross motor abilities and gait compared to intensive TOP. Nineteen ambulatory children with Bilateral Spastic CP were assigned to two 10-week training groups. 9 children had 20 sessions of RAGT and 20 sessions of TOP, the other 10 children had 40 sessions only of TOP. The Gross Motor Function Measure, 6-Minute Walk Test and 3D Gait Analysis were assessed prior to, at the end of, and 3 months after the end of the treatment. After the training and during the follow up, both groups improved their Gross Motor Function Measure scores, maintained their gait pattern and had unchanged 6-Minute Walk Test results. No between group differences were found in any outcome measures. In conclusion, compared to intensive TOP alone, the addition of RAGT to TOP was demonstrated to be equally effective at improving gross motor abilities and maintaining gait pattern over time. The robotic rehabilitation allows care-providers to administer a standardized, controlled, dosed therapy, and appears to increase patient's motivation.