Efficacy of Partial Body Weight-Supported Treadmill Training (PBWSTT) Compared with Overground Walking Practice on Endurance and Walking Speed in Children with Cerebral Palsy (CP): A Randomised Controlled Trial.

INTERVENTION: Partial Body Weight‐Supported Treadmill Training (PBWSTT) in children. This is a method used in neurological rehabilitation of adults and children that provides task‐specific gait training with multiple repetitions and active participation of the client, which has been demonstrated to enhance motor learning. Partial body weight is facilitated via the use of a harness. sessions will be administered 2xper week over an 8 week period, each session lasting up to 30 minutes. Sessions will be administered by the physiotherapists at the school where the study will take place. Participants will be encouraged to increase their duration and / or walking speed, and / or decrease the amount of body weight support over the duration of the 8 week study as deemed appropriate by the treating physiotherapist. The number of sessions and duration of each session will be recorded. In the event that a participant misses a session they will be provided with a catch up session in the next week. CONDITION: Cerebral Palsy PRIMARY OUTCOME: Changes in endurance as measured via a Six Minute Endurance Walk (6 MWT) Walking speed as measured by the 10 metre wlak test (10mwt) SECONDARY OUTCOME: Changes in function as measured by the Gross Motor function (88) INCLUSION CRITERIA: Students will be included with: (i) a diagnosis of CP and aged between 6 and 18 years. (ii) Gross Motor Function Classification System (GMFCS) Levels II (walks without assistive mobility devices but has limitations walking outdoor and in the community) and III (walks with assistive mobility devices but has limitations walking outdoors and in the community). (iii) an ability to follow verbal directions for standardized testing.