Effects of the Addition of a Single Bout of Whole-Body Vibration to a Single Bout of Treadmill Training on Gait and Spasticity in Ambulatory Children With Cerebral Palsy
Georgia State University
Summary
Whole-body vibration (WBV) and treadmill training (TT) are commonly-utilized rehabilitation interventions for children with neuromotor disorders. WBV has been shown in the literature to positively affect gait and lower body spasticity in this population. However, the effects of a single session of WBV are generally transient, lasting between ten minutes and two hours. Thus, it may be necessary to combine WBV with another intervention to reinforce improved movement patterns and maximize its potential benefits. Therefore, the aim of this study is to investigate the effects of the addition of a single bout of WBV to a single bout of TT on the lower extremity spasticity and gait parameters of ambulatory children with CP.
Description
Whole-body vibration (WBV) and treadmill training (TT) are commonly-utilized rehabilitation interventions for children with neuromotor disorders. The evidence supporting the use of TT in children with cerebral palsy (CP) remains inconclusive, but WBV has been shown in the literature to positively affect gait and lower body spasticity in this population. However, the effects of a single session of WBV are generally transient, lasting between ten minutes and two hours. Thus, it may be necessary to combine WBV with another intervention to reinforce improved movement patterns and maximize its pote…
Eligibility
- Age range
- 6–17 years
- Sex
- All
- Healthy volunteers
- No
Inclusion Criteria: * a medical diagnosis of spastic CP * a GMFCS level of I, II, or III * age of 6-17 years at the time of data collection Exclusion Criteria: * history of musculoskeletal injury within the past 3 months * history of Botox injections to the lower extremities within the past 3 months * history of significant cardiac abnormalities and/or uncontrolled seizures * any cognitive or behavioral issues that prevent the subject from safely following instructions while walking on the treadmill
Interventions
- OtherTreadmill Training
Ten minutes of treadmill walking at 110% self-selected overground walking speed
- OtherWhole Body Vibration & Treadmill Training
Eight bouts of 90 seconds of vibration at 20 Hz and an amplitude of 2 mm on a Galileo Med-L side-to-side-alternating WBV plate (StimDesigns LLC, Carmel, CA, USA) followed by ten minutes of treadmill walking at 110% self selected overground walking speed.
Location
- Georgia State UniversityAtlanta, Georgia