Canchild's motor growth study has shown that young children with cerebral palsy (CP) achieve their motor milestones at an accelerated rate compared with that of older children with CP.1 From these data, it seems crucial to provide intensive physical therapy intervention at a young age to children with CP. One of these interventions is the use of locomotor treadmill training (LTT) in an attempt to maximize walking independence, walking endurance, and gait speed. LTT differs from body weight-supported treadmill training in that LTT uses as little weight support as possible. LTT fits in current rehabilitation opinions for providing task-specific training with multiple repetitions to children with CP. LTT has been studied in children with CP, both ambulatory and nonambulatory. Despite encouraging results, relatively few studies have been performed in the younger age group. To fill this gap in the literature, the effects of an intensive LTT intervention were examined in children younger than 4 years with different types and severity of CP on functional standing and walking skills. Young children with CP were enabled to take independent steps on the treadmill with as little support or facilitation as possible. The possible adverse effects of LTT such as excessive fatigue or other forms of discomfort were also studied. The study provided preliminary evidence that intensive LTT in this small sample of preschoolers with CP improved gross motor function, maximum and self-selected walking speed, and walking endurance, with no harmful side effects.
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