Retrospective study of effectiveness of high versus low intensity robotic gait training in combination with physiotherapy for pediatric cerebral palsy patients.

Abstract

Introduction Children with cerebral palsy exhibit impaired gross motor function, particularly in standing and walking abilities. Robot-assisted gait training using the Lokomat device has emerged as an established intervention for improving gross motor function in this population. This study aimed to analyze the effects of two distinct training protocols in children who participated in Lokomat training programs and physiotherapy over a ten-year period. Methods We conducted a retrospective analysis of 114 children with cerebral palsy (35 female, mean age 11.2 ± 3.6 years, GMFCS levels I-V) who participated in Lokomat gait training and physiotherapy between November 2011 and November 2021. Participants were assigned to either an intensive program (n = 88; 4-5 sessions on Lokomat/week for 4 weeks) or an moderate intensity program (n = 26; 2 sessions on Lokomat/week for 8 weeks). Assessments included passive range of motion, Timed Up and Go test, 10-m walking test, and 6-min walking test, all conducted pre- and post-training. Results Both groups demonstrated significant within-group improvements in passive range of motion at the knee (popliteal angles) and ankle joints (p Conclusion Both training protocols produced statistically significant within-group improvements in passive range of motion, though no significant between-group differences were detected post-training. The intensive program group demonstrated significant improvements across multiple walking tests, while the moderate intensity group showed significant improvement only in the Timed Up and Go test-the sole measure revealing significant between-group differences.