Comparison of the Effectiveness of Conventional Physiotherapy Methods and Robot-Assisted Gait Training after Botulinum Toxin Injection of Lower Extremities in Children with Cerebral Palsy: Prospective Randomized Controlled Study

Abstract

Abstract There are increasing numbers of studies regarding robot-assisted gait training thanks to technological developments and whether it is superior to conventional physiotherapy methods draws attention. This study aimed to compare the effectiveness of conventional physiotherapy methods and robot-assisted gait training in children with cerebral palsy receiving botulinum toxin injection of lower extremities. A total of 28 patients who were followed up in our clinic and had received botulinum toxin injection of lower extremities in the last month were randomized into two groups in the study. First group received conventional physiotherapy (range of joint motion (ROM), stretching, gait training, etc.), and the other group received robot-assisted gait training. The study population was evaluated pre- and posttreatment regarding their ROM, spasticity, gross motor function, balance, functional independence, and gait analyses. When we look at the responses of the patients before and after treatment, a statistically significant change was observed in all fields when comparing before treatment with after treatment ( p  <  0.05), but there was no statistically significant difference between the groups. We find that both conventional physiotherapy methods and robot-assisted treatments after botulinum toxin injection of lower extremities in children with cerebral palsy were efficient; however, one of both methods was not superior to the other. In addition, further large-scale studies with long-term follow-ups on the comparison of treatment methods are needed.