Changes in lower extremity strength may be related to the walking speed improvements in children with cerebral palsy after gait training.
Leg strength rises with walking speed after gait training in kids with CP, especially younger ones.
01Research in Context
What this study did
McGarty et al. (2018) ran a gait training program for children with cerebral palsy. They measured walking speed, walking endurance, and leg strength before and after the program.
The study used a simple pre-post design with no control group. All kids had cerebral palsy and could already walk.
What they found
After the training, kids walked faster and longer. Their leg strength also went up.
The children who gained the most strength also gained the most speed. Younger kids showed the clearest link between stronger legs and faster walking.
How this fits with other research
Chen et al. (2013) found the same link in reverse: kids who started with stronger knee muscles made the biggest motor gains later. Together, the two studies show strength both predicts and tracks gait progress.
Moll et al. (2023) tried robot-assisted gait training in adults with CP. They saw only tiny, non-significant speed gains after six short sessions. The adult results look weaker, but the studies differ in age, dose, and method — so they do not truly clash.
Jeng et al. (2013) showed that a 12-week home exercise program gave kids with CP fitness benefits that lasted 10 years. McGarty et al. (2018) adds that gait training can give immediate strength and speed pay-offs, while Shiau-Chian points to long-term value of any lower-limb work.
Why it matters
If you work with ambulatory kids with CP, check leg strength at intake and after any gait intervention. A quick manual muscle test or sit-to-stand count can flag who may respond best and show you if the program is working. When speed is slow to improve, add targeted quad or calf strengthening before you abandon the gait plan.
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02At a glance
03Original abstract
BACKGROUND: Cerebral palsy (CP) has a high probability of resulting in lower extremity strength and walking deficits. Numerous studies have shown that gait training has the potential to improve the walking abilities of these children; however, the factors governing these improvements are unknown. AIMS: This study aimed to evaluate the relationship between change in lower extremity strength, walking speed and endurance of children with CP following gait training. METHODS AND PROCEDURES: Eleven children with CP (GMFCS levels=II-III) completed a gait training protocol three days a week for six weeks. Outcome measures included a 10m fast-as-possible walk test, 6min walking endurance test and lower extremity strength. OUTCOMES AND RESULTS: The group results indicated there were improvements in walking speed, walking endurance and lower extremity strength. In addition, there was a positive correlation between percent change in lower extremity strength and walking speed and a negative correlation between the percent change in lower extremity strength and the child's age. CONCLUSIONS: Our results imply that changes in lower extremity strength might be related to the degree of the walking speed changes seen after gait training. Younger children may be more likely to show improvements in lower extremity strength after gait training.
Research in developmental disabilities, 2018 · doi:10.1016/j.ridd.2017.12.005