The effects of whole-body vibration on gait and balance in children with diplegic spastic cerebral palsy: a randomized controlled pilot study.

OBJECTIVE

The aim of this study was to evaluate the effect of whole-body vibration (WBV) on spasticity, gait, balance, and motor performance in children with spastic cerebral palsy (CP).

METHODS

Groups were administered the conventional physiotherapy program for 8 weeks. WBV group received an additional 2 sessions of WBV a week.

RESULTS

The WBV training combined with conventional physiotherapy is superior to conventional physiotherapy alone in improving gross motor functions (GMFM-D&E), functional walking ability assessment (1-MWT distance) and dynamic balance ability (PDS score) (p < 0,05).

CONCLUSIONS

WBV training program added to a conventional physiotherapy program could provide more gains in terms of functionality and the motor functional level of children with spastic diplegic CP.