Combining a virtual reality system with treadmill training for children with cerebral palsy

This pilot study is a report of the combination of a virtual reality (VR) system with treadmill training for children with cerebral palsy. The VR system includes an element of gaming to serve as a playful context to motivate the children to walk for longer periods of time in treatment sessions. The children all expressed pleasure in reaching the goal of saving the princess after walking for 9 hours. The intensive treadmill practice helped the children make significant changes in walking performances (p=.02) and capabilities (p=.05) as measured by the Standardized Walking Obstacle Course and Gross Motor Function Measure- 88, respectively. This virtual reality system, in the form of DVDs, provides additional support for the feasibility and use of a virtual reality system in locomotion rehabilitation.