Impact of Physical Therapy Interventions on the Gait Performance of Children with Cerebral Palsy – A Systematic Review

Abstract

One of the main causes of physical disability in children is cerebral palsy (CP), which is frequently linked to abnormalities of gait like scissoring, crouch gait, and equinus. Promising results have been obtained from physiotherapy interventions that focus on strength, motor control, and functional gait. The evidence from 35 studies assessing physiotherapy-based interventions for enhancing gait performance in children with cerebral palsy, published between 2000 and 2025, was compiled in this systematic review. Stride length, cadence, and functional mobility all showed moderate to significant gains with interventions such as task-oriented training, treadmill training, and robotic-assisted gait training. Stretching by itself had little effect, but strength and core stability exercises improved gait efficiency and decreased energy expenditure. All things considered, technology-enhanced physiotherapy interventions improve gait outcomes, but their implementation must be economical.

KEYWORDS:

Cerebral Palsy, Gait, Physiotherapy, Task-Oriented Training, Rehabilitation.