Effect of robotic training on the mobility of children with cerebral palsy: A systematic review and meta-analysis of randomized controlled trials

Abstract

In this study, we conducted a systematic review and meta-analysis to investigate the effect of robotic training on the mobility of children with cerebral palsy. The PubMed, Cochrane Library, PEDro, and Embase databases were searched for relevant studies from their inception to June 17, 2023. We selected studies that (1) were randomized controlled trials (RCTs), (2) included patients with cerebral palsy aged years, (3) compared robotic training with conventional rehabilitation alone, and (4) reported mobility outcomes. Continuous variables are expressed as standardized mean differences (SMDs) with 95% confidence intervals (CIs). The analysis was performed using RevMan 5.4 software. We included 10 RCTs with a total of 298 patients. The intervention groups significantly outperformed the control groups in terms of cadence (SMD = 0.77, 95% CI: 0.18, 1.36; P = 0.01). No adverse events were noted in the included studies. In addition, no improvement was observed in walking speed, walking endurance, Gross Motor Function Measure, WeeFIM score, or any other spatiotemporal gait parameter. Additional high-quality, large-scale RCTs are required to confirm the benefits and long-term effects of this intervention.