Combined effect of task-specific training and dynamic orthotic approach on gait performance in children with unilateral cerebral palsy

Objectives: Integration between different treatment methods will benefit patients. We aimed to evaluate the effect of adding dynamic ankle-foot orthosis while carrying a task-specific training based-program to improve gait performance in children with unilateral cerebral palsy (CP). Methods: Thirty-six patients were included in this study from 7-9 years. They were assigned randomly into two equal groups: experimental and control groups. Both groups received selected task-specific training-based programs, including lower limb strengthening exercises and treadmill gait training without body support. In comparison, the experimental group used dynamic ankle-foot orthosis. The intervention program was performed three times per week for 12 successive weeks for a total of 36 hours. All children were evaluated through a 6-minute walk test (6MWT), a 10-meter walk test (10MWT), and the modified pediatric version of the Wisconsin gait scale (WGS). Measured variables were recorded twice: pre-and post-treatment. Results: Significant improvement was noticed in both groups; the post-treatment improvements were significantly greater in favor of the experimental group concerning results of 6MWT, 10MWT, and the modified pediatric version of WGS as P=.0001. Conclusions: Integration between the task-specific training based-program and dynamic ankle-foot orthosis improves gait performance in children with unilateral CP.