Effects of Dual-Task Training With and Without Backward Walking on Balance, Functional Mobility, and Participation in Ambulatory Children With Spastic Diplegic Cerebral Palsy: A Randomized Controlled Trial.

What was studied

This study looked at children with cerebral palsy who can walk. Their muscles were stiff, mainly in both legs. They were aged 6-12 years. All children did dual-task training, which means doing a task while moving. One group also did backward walking in place of some forward walking. Total training time was the same in both groups. Chance decided which group each child joined. Training lasted 4 weeks, with 40-minute sessions.

What they found

Both groups did better on all tests after training. The main test timed how quickly a child gets up and walks. The backward walking group made a small extra gain on this test. The extra gain was about 1 s. Balance scores rose in both groups, with no clear group difference. Scores for daily life and taking part also rose in both groups. Here too, the groups did not clearly differ.

What it means for patients

Adding backward walking was linked to a small extra gain in moving around. The authors say it is unclear if this gain matters in real life. The study did not show that backward walking helps balance more. It also did not show more benefit for taking part in daily life.

Why it is not certain yet

The trial was not large enough to test balance and taking part well. So similar results there do not prove the methods are equal. No group went without dual-task training. So the study cannot show if dual-task training works on its own. Tests were done only right after the 4 weeks of training.

Source

Effects of Dual-Task Training With and Without Backward Walking on Balance, Functional Mobility, and Participation in Ambulatory Children With Spastic Diplegic Cerebral Palsy: A Randomized Controlled Trial.

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