About the Journal

Download [This article belongs to Volume - 65, Issue - 10]

Abstract : Balance impairment remains a persistent challenge in cerebral palsy, limiting independence and increasing fall risk. Although visual feedback-based and perturbation-based balance training (PBT) approaches have demonstrated promising outcomes, limited research has explored the integration of unstable-surface coordination training with mechanical perturbations in pediatric CP populations. This study aimed to evaluate the effectiveness of an innovative hybrid protocol that combines a coordination training device with a cable-driven perturbation system for children with CP. Two participants with CP (spastic diplegic and ataxic types; GMFCS I–II) completed a 4-week intervention (three sessions/week). Each session included: (i) warm-up balance training, (ii) perturbation phase with randomized diagonal waist-pulls (5–15% BW), and (iii) cool-down coordination training. Functional assessments were conducted pre- and post-intervention using the 6-Minute Walk Test (6MWT), 10-Meter Walk Test (10MWT), Timed Up and Go Test (TUGT), Berg Balance Scale (BBS), and Gross Motor Function Measure (GMFM-66). Both participants demonstrated improvements across all functional metrics. Subject AN14 showed a 4.5% increase in 6MWT distance and 56% faster TUGT time, while UL14 improved 14% in 6MWT and 18% in 10MWT. BBS increased by 4–5 points, and GMFM scores improved by 8–12%. No adverse events occurred.