Effects of Pelvic-Knee Elastic Band Application on Pelvic Anterior Tilt Angle, Plantar Contact Area During Standing in Adolescents with Spastic Diplegic Cerebral Palsy

This study aimed to evaluate the effects of treadmill gait training with a pelvis-knee elastic band on anterior pelvic tilt angle and plantar contact area during standing posture in adolescents with spastic diplegic cerebral palsy. Ten adolescents with spastic diplegic cerebral palsy participated in a 4-week intervention, consisting of three 50-minute sessions per week (40 minutes of general exercise followed by 10 minutes of treadmill gait training with a pelvis-knee elastic band). Anterior pelvic tilt angle was measured using the Bubble Level and Clinometer application, and plantar contact area during standing was assessed using the FreeMed™ pressure platform. Post-intervention, the anterior pelvic tilt angle significantly decreased. The total contact area and rearfoot contact area of the dominant foot significantly increased, while in the non-dominant foot, the forefoot contact area significantly decreased, and the rearfoot contact area significantly increased. Treadmill gait training with a pelvis-knee elastic band reduced anterior pelvic tilt and redistributed plantar contact area, thereby improving postural stability. These findings provide foundational evidence for developing effective intervention strategies to enhance posture and gait in individuals with spastic diplegic cerebral palsy.