Aquatic Treadmill Walking Lowers Pelvic Motion Irregularity in Typically Developing and Children With Cerebral Palsy.

OBJECTIVE

The aim of the study is to evaluate the impact of aquatic treadmill walking on the pelvic dynamics of children with cerebral palsy.

DESIGN

The study is a block-randomized cross-over design with 8 children with cerebral palsy and 15 typically developing children. All participants walked at fast, normal, and slow speeds on an aquatic (WET) treadmill and conventional (DRY) treadmill. Inertial measurement units recorded the participants' pelvic angles in the mediolateral, anteroposterior, and axial angles from which sample entropy values were determined.

RESULTS

A multilevel model showed decreased irregularity in the pelvic dynamics of both cerebral palsy and typically developing groups in WET conditions compared with DRY and at slower compared with higher speeds in the mediolateral and axial planes. For the anteroposterior plane, the irregularity of the pelvic motion decreased at the slow speed-WET condition compared with the fast trial.

CONCLUSIONS

The study shows the potential of the aquatic treadmill environment to induce more typical postural dynamics for children with cerebral palsy compared with conventional dry treadmills. Postural dynamics also had decreased irregularity at slower walking speeds. A longitudinal study would show the retention tendencies of observed impacts on children with cerebral palsy.