Changes in the walking pattern after an intensive therapy of the upper and lower extremities (HABIT-ILE) in children with cerebral palsy

Cerebral palsy (CP) is the most common source of motor impairments in pediatric population, generally leading to walking difficulties. Hand and Arm Bimanual Intensive Therapy Including Lower Extremities (HABIT-ILE), based on the principles of motor learning and neuroplasticity has emerged few years ago with encouraging results regarding the upper extremity, gross motor function and walking ability. This study aims to assess if children with unilateral CP (UCP) and bilateral CP (BCP) present changes in their gait pattern after HABIT-ILE. Using video-recordings, we scored with the Observational Gait Scale the gait pattern of 46 children with CP at three times: pre (T1) and post HABITE-ILE (T2), and follow-up at three months (T3). Results showed in children with UCP changes in the foot contact at midstance in both less affected (LA) and more affected (MA) lower extremities (LE). In children with BCP, change was observed in the initial foot contact in the LA LE. These improvements in the OGS scores reveal better gait efficiency in children with CP. However, further investigations are needed to identify which factors led to these changes.