Date of Award

1-1-2022

Degree Type

Selective Evidence-Based Medicine Review

Degree Name

Master of Science in Health Sciences - Physician Assistant

Department

Physician Assistant Studies

Abstract

Objective: The objective of this selective EBM review is to determine whether or not “Does biofeedback increase gait velocity in children with cerebral palsy (CP)?”.

Study Design: A systematic review of three randomized control trials (RCTs) published between 2014 and 2019.

Data Sources: All three RCTs were found using PubMed. Each article was published in English in peer reviewed journals and selected based on their applicability to the clinical question, provide a new technique in CP rehabilitation, and include patient-oriented outcomes (POEMS).

Outcome Measured: The outcome measured was gait velocity before and after treatment using Tekscan software, 3D motion analysis system, and 10-meter walk test. The mean change from baseline was calculated once the treatment was received for both the control and study groups.

Results: In the RCT by Hussein et al., biofeedback increased gait velocity as compared to the control group (p = 0.03), indicated by a mean change from baseline of -9.6 cm/second in the study group versus -2.69 cm/second in the control group. In the RCT by Elnaggar, biofeedback increased gait velocity as compared to the control group (p = 0.042), indicated by a mean change from baseline of 6.235 m/minute in the study group versus 1.73 m/minute in the control group. In the RCT by Cho et al., biofeedback increased gait velocity as compared to the control group (p = 0.001), indicated by a mean change from baseline of 0.5 m/second in the study group versus 0.2 m/second in the control group.

Conclusion: All three studies demonstrated that biofeedback significantly increased gait velocity in children with CP. This indicates that biofeedback is an effective treatment method for gait training in children with CP. Future studies should focus on expanding generalizability and ease of access to biofeedback options.

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