THE EFFECT OF SUPPORTED TREADMILL GAIT TRAINING ON FUNCTIONAL MOBILITY IN TWO CHILDREN WITH ANGELMAN SYNDROME.
Paleg, V.S.;.
PURPOSE: To document functional gains and qualitative progress in two girls with Angelman Syndrome following Supported Treadmill Gait Training. SUBJECTS: 6 yo girl followed for two years with Angelman Syndrome, Pacemaker, diplegic CP and seizure disorder and a9 yo followed for 4 years with Angelman Syndrome, Shaken Baby Syndrome, severe ostopenia and seizure disorder. METHODS AND MATERIALS: The subjects received 8 minute sessions of supported treadmill gait training. The "supported gait training " device consisted of a suspension system used to provide upright posture appropriate for walking as well as balance and safety during treadmill walking. This was accomplished through a harness that removed a controllable portion of the weight from the legs, and redistributed it to the trunk and groin. This arrangement permitted free movement of the patient’s arms and legs. The horizontal movement was provided by slow forward propulsion by the therapist. ANALYSIS: Subjects were evaluated suing the GMFM, Speed of Walking, and WeeFIM. RESULTS: Subject one became an independent ambulator with a walker at age 6 and an independent short distance ambulator at age 8. Subject two became an independent ambulator with a platform walker at age 11. CONCLUSIONS: The subject improved their gait by a full functional level in 6-9 months. Published data on clinical trails using supported gait training over a treadmill demonstrates that the harness and the support it offers optimizes gait training. These case studies are intended to show that supported treadmill gait training is an effective intervention for children with Angelman Syndrome with other neurological disorders. While these two children responded slower than the children with Cerebral Palsy studied in Schindl’s research, the end results were similar. The harness system seemed to decrease the subject’s level of fear and enabled them to learn the skill of walking with less support.
Last edited on Fri Dec 8th, 2006 04:03 pm by Ginny Paleg, MS, PT
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