Efficacy of Adding Lower Extremity Weights on Balance and Gait Disturbances in Children with Ataxic Cerebral Palsy: A Randomized Controlled Trial

BackgroundAtaxic cerebral palsy children have hard times controlling their movements. They exhibit tremors, shakiness and struggle with precise movements, balance as well as pattern of gait.ObjectiveTo examine the influence of adding lower extremity weights on balance and gait disturbances in children diagnosed with ataxic cerebral palsy.MethodsSixty children with ataxic cerebral palsy aged from 7 to 12 years participated in this trial after the eligibility assessment. They were randomly allocated to two equal sized groups. The standard care group underwent a designed treatment protocol, while the added weight group received the same designed treatment protocol along with adding lower extremity weights. Children in both groups underwent the same treatment protocols three times per week for a duration of three consecutive months. Biodex balance system and 3D motion analysis (3DMA) were used to evaluate stability indices as primary outcome (overall, mediolateral and anteroposterior), and spatiotemporal gait parameters as secondary outcome (speed, cadence, base width, step length, stride length, step time, and percentage of double support) respectively in both groups at the beginning and after three months of intervention.ResultsPost intervention findings demonstrated a significant reduction in stability indices, base width, step time, and percentage of double support, as well as significant increase in walking speed, cadence, step length, and stride length, in both groups in favor of added weight group (P < 0.05).ConclusionsAdding small fixed lower extremity weights was associated with improvements in balance and reduced gait disturbances in ambulant ataxic cerebral palsy children.