Thesis (M.Sc.) - Cairo University - Faculty of Physical Therapy - Department of Growth and Development Disorders in Pediatrics

The improvement or maintenance of walking ability of the children with spastic cerebral palsy is often considered to be primary of most therapeutic interventions treadmill training with Partial body weight has been used in the treatment of children with CP in an attempt to maximize walking independence, gait speed, and walking endurance. To determine the effect of partial body weight in combination to additional ankle weight on gait kinematics in children with spastic diplegic cerebral palsy. Thirty spastic diplegic children from both sexes (13 girls and 17 boys) of chronological age ranged from 4 to 7 years participated in this study. They were divided equally into two groups; control group received the regular therapeutic exercise program based on Pragmatic approach whereas the study group received the same regular therapeutic exercise program given to control group and 30 minutes of partial body weight support treadmill training (30% relief of total body weight) with additional weight at ankle level. Kinematic gait parameters were assessed by using two Dimension (2D) gait analysis while standing and walking abilities were evaluated by Gross Motor Function Measure (GMFM) before and after three successful months of treatment

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