Study compares training approaches to improve walking in children with cerebral palsy

A new study examined whether a combined approach to power and treadmill training could improve walking ability in children with cerebral palsy.

The multi-site randomized clinical trial was led by Noelle G. Moreau, PT, PhD, of the Louisiana State University Health Sciences Center, and included Adjunct Professor Kristie F. Bjornson, PT, PhD as the Seattle site principal investigator.

Researchers enrolled 43 children ages 10 to 17 with spastic, bilateral cerebral palsy and assigned them to one of two groups. One group received lower-extremity power training combined with high-intensity interval treadmill training, while the comparison group received traditional strength training combined with steady-state treadmill training. Participants completed 24 sessions and were evaluated at multiple time points up to six months after the intervention.

The study found that the combined power and interval treadmill training led to greater improvements in fast walking speed two months after treatment compared with the traditional approach. Children in this group also showed greater gains in muscle power immediately after training. Measures of gait intensity improved right after the intervention but were not sustained at later follow-up visits.

The findings suggest that combining power training with interval treadmill training may offer added benefits for improving mobility in children with cerebral palsy.

The study was published March 5, 2026, in Pediatrics.