Gait characteristics of children with cerebral palsy as they walk with body weight unloading on a treadmill and over the ground

Body weight support (BWS) has become a typical strategy for gait training, in special with children with cerebral palsy (CP). Although several findings have been reported in the literature, it remains uncertain how different types of surfaces and gradual amount of BWS can facilitate the mobility of children with CP. The aim of this study was to investigate gait kinematic parameters of children with CP by manipulating BWS and two different types of ground surfaces. Ten children (7.7 ± 2.1 years old) diagnosed with spastic CP and GMFCS classification between levels II and IV were asked to walk on a treadmill and over the ground. In both conditions, BWS was manipulated to minimize gravitational effects and spatial-temporal gait parameters and lower limb joints were analyzed. The results revealed that the type of ground surface causes greater impact on the gait pattern of children with CP as compared to body weight unloading. This finding may provide new insights into the behavioral heterogeneity of children with CP, and offers critical information to be considered on interventional programs specifically designed to improve mobility on this population.