The Efficacy of Treadmill Training on Walking and Quality of Life of Adults with Spastic Cerebral Palsy: A Randomized Controlled Trial

OBJECTIVES: We aimed to evaluate the efficacy of treadmill training on walking speed and endurance and quality of life in ambulatory adults with spastic cerebral palsy (CP) versus traditional physiotherapy. MATERIALS & METHODS: Participants (17 men, 13 women; mean (SD) age 25 yr, 9 m (7 yr, 10m) range 18-45) with Gross Motor Function Classification System (GMFCS) levels below IV (I, II, and III) from the Ra’ad Rehabilitation Goodwill Complex, Tehran, Iran randomly were allocated to the experimental and the control groups each with 15 persons in 2014. The training (treadmill for experimental group and conventional physiotherapy for control group) was conducted two times a week for 8 weeks. Statistical analysis was made by Repeated Measures of ANOVA for changes within the group during the time and Independent t and Mann-Whitney U tests for the differences between the groups. RESULTS: Although the experimental group showed a significant improve in the gait speed [1.08(0.47) m/s to 1.22(0.50) m/s] (P=0.002) and in the gait endurance [291.13(160.28) m to 342.63 (174.62) m] (P=0.002), however the changes of the outcome measures of walking and quality of life the between groups were not significant. CONCLUSION: The treadmill training without body weight support would improve walking speed and endurance in adults with spastic CP. It would not be however more effective than the traditional physiotherapy to increase the gait performances and function and the quality of life in adults with CP.