Pilates-based exercises for gait and balance in ambulant children with cerebral palsy: feasibility and clinical outcomes of a randomised controlled trial.

Purpose: To determine if Pilates-based exercise classes could be feasible and effective in changing gait kinematics and balance in ambulant children with Cerebral Palsy (CP).

Materials And Methods: A single-blind multi-centre randomised controlled trial compared a four-week, twice-weekly Pilates-based exercise class to a usual exercise control, for ambulant children with CP. Clinical outcome measures were three-dimensional trunk and lower limb kinematics during walking on level ground, uneven ground and crossing an obstacle; and clinical balance measures.