Reinforcing CP Robotic Training With Auditory Feedback

The purpose of this study is to create a platform to prolong the adaption obtained from the cable-actuated gait training and encourage the individuals with CP to provide self-care at home.

The experiment protocol involves a maximum of ten sessions and will take two or three hours for each session. Baseline data will be collected before the first session for both overground and treadmill walking. During this session, the sound level will be adjusted based on the feedback received from the users. The researcher will ask the comfortable sound level to the participant before starting the experiment. Training will be conducted on the treadmill with the cable-actuated device for about 20 minutes. When the cables were removed, participants walked on the treadmill for 4 minutes during the post-training session. During training and post-training, participants will be exposed to feedback while walking on the treadmill. After treadmill walking, CP participants will be asked to take a ten-minute break and then practice overground walking for two minutes with auditory feedback (type A) and without it (type B). Effects of 3 different types of auditory feedback will be explored namely, rhythmic sounds, movement sonification, and sound notifying erroneous gait. Group A participants will be further divided into groups depending on the type of auditory feedback that will be provided. Participants will participate in a maximum of 10 sessions, two or three times a week. Before the first and after the last training, participants will be evaluated for functional gait assessment, 6-min-walk, leg strength using a dynamometer, and Modified Ashworth test by a physical therapist.