Affiliations: [a] Neuroengineering and Medical Robotic Laboratory, Electronics, Information and Bioengineering Department, Politecnico di Milano, Milan, Italy | [b] Scientific Institute, IRCCS Eugenio Medea, Bosisio Parini, Italy
Correspondence:
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Corresponding author: Elisabetta Peri, Neuroengineering and Medical Robotic Laboratory (NEARLab), Electronics, Information and Bioengineering Department (DEIB), Politecnico di Milano, Piazza Leonardo da Vinci, 32, Milano 20133, Italy. Tel.: +39 02 23999502; E-mail: elisabetta.peri@polimi.it.
Abstract: BACKGROUND: Robot-Assisted Gait Training (RAGT) is a widespread approach for locomotion rehabilitation but information about intervention frequency and duration is still lacking. OBJECTIVE: To evaluate the effect of frequency and duration of a RAGT on motor outcome of children affected by Cerebral Palsy (CP). METHODS: Forty-four CP children (age 4–17) underwent one among four different intensive trainings with equal dose of intervention, combining Task-Oriented Physiotherapy (TOP) and RAGT: 40 sessions (4 sessions/week) over 10 weeks of sole TOP (group1) or RAGT (group2) or RAGT and TOP (2 + 2 sessions/week; group3); 40 sessions in shorter period (4 weeks) of RAGT and TOP (5 + 5 sessions/week; group4). Each child was assessed before, after the training and after 3 months with: Ashworth, gross motor function measure (GMFM)-88, GMFM-66, six minutes walking test and gait analysis. RESULTS: No differences among the 4 protocols were highlighted although both groups with exclusive physiotherapy and RAGT obtained significant improvements in GMFM-88, GMFM-E and GMFM-66 while the mixed approaches did not show significant changes. CONCLUSION: Single-treatment approaches seem to be more effective than mixed approaches, independently from the duration (4 or 10 weeks). RAGT seems to have similar effect with respect to the traditional TOP, at least over 10 weeks.
Keywords: Robot-Assisted Gait Training, lower limb rehabilitation, cerebral palsy, frequency and duration of intervention
