Evidence map›Paper›PMID 41372400›Full record

Observational studyScientific reports2025

Effectiveness of treadmill-based virtual-reality biofeedback training to improve gait function in children and adolescents with congenital and acquired brain injury.

S H Schless, G Sorek, I Schurr, E Beretta, E Diella, E Biffi

Abstract readMulticenter StudyObservational Study
In one paragraph

Observational study in Scientific reports, 2025. The graph could read no effect estimate from its abstract, so it casts no vote on the map. Not yet cited in PubMed.

0numbers the graph read from it
0cells of the map it votes in
0citing papers in PubMed
–field-weighted citation impact
1 · What the graph read from it

What it found

Each row is one number read from the abstract, on the scale the paper reported it, with its interval. Left of the dashed line favours the treatment, right favours the comparator. Under each row is the sentence it came from. New to these charts? A ten-minute tutorial.

The abstract states no effect estimate the extractor could read, or names no intervention and outcome on the map, so this paper lights no cell and moves no belief. It is still indexed, cited and linked below.

2 · The registry

The trial behind it

Trials whose registry record cites this paper, or whose number appears in the abstract. A trial that started after this paper was published is citing it as background, not reporting it.

Neither the registry nor the abstract names a trial number. If this is a trial report, that itself is worth knowing.

3 · Its place in the literature

Who cites it

0 citing papers in PubMed.

No citing paper in PubMed yet.

4 · The record

Corrections and comments

PubMed lists nothing against this paper. Absence here is not a guarantee, only a check that was made.

5 · Who and what money

Authors and funding

6 authors.

S H SchlessDepartment of Physical Therapy, Gray Faculty of Medical and Health Sciences, Tel Aviv University, Tel Aviv, Israel. shschless@tauex.tau.ac.il.
G SorekHelmsley PARC Research Center, ALYN Pediatric and Adolescent Rehabilitation Hospital, Jerusalem, Israel.
I SchurrMotion Analysis and Biofeedback Laboratory, ALYN Pediatric and Adolescent Rehabilitation Hospital, Jerusalem, Israel.
E BerettaScientific Institute IRCCS Eugenio Medea, Via Don Luigi Monza, 20, Bosisio Parini, 23842, Lecco, Italy.
E DiellaScientific Institute IRCCS Eugenio Medea, Via Don Luigi Monza, 20, Bosisio Parini, 23842, Lecco, Italy.
E BiffiScientific Institute IRCCS Eugenio Medea, Via Don Luigi Monza, 20, Bosisio Parini, 23842, Lecco, Italy.

Funding

Leona M. and Harry B. Helmsley Charitable Trust 2207-05386Ministero della Salute Ricerca Corrente 2024/2025Ministero dell'Istruzione, dell'Università e della Ricerca PNC0000007
6 · The paper itself

Abstract

This study aimed to evaluate the effects of treadmill-based virtual-reality (VR) biofeedback training on gait function in a cohort of children and adolescents with cerebral palsy (CP) or acquired brain injury (ABI). Secondary aims examined the influence of the amount and frequency of treatment sessions, treatment goals, and diagnosis. Data were collected from 135 participants (CP: n = 61; ABI: n = 74) aged 12.4 ± 3.5 years, at two rehabilitation centres with varying training protocols, (ranging between 5 and 24 training sessions). Participants completed a series of VR treadmill-based biofeedback sessions targeting gait function, gait quality, or balance. Gait function was assessed using the Six-Minute Walk Test (6MWT), self-selected walking speed (SSWS), and the Gillette Functional Assessment Questionnaire Walking Scale (FAQ-WS). This was a multicentre observational pre–post study using retrospectively collected clinical data from one center and previously gathered prospective data from a second center. Significant pre-post improvements were observed in the 6MWT (+ 27.2 m, 95% CI 20–41 m, p < 0.001), SSWS (+ 0.12 m/s, 95% CI 0.09–0.14 m/s, p < 0.001) and FAQ-WS score (median = 0, IQR= -1 to 2), p < 0.001). The amount and frequency of treatment sessions showed weak associations with the changes in SSWS (rs=0.27, p = 0.002 and rs=-0.25, p = 0.015, respectively) but did not influence 6MWT or FAQ-WS changes. Participants with a primary goal of improving gait function (n = 62) presented greater 6MWT improvements than those without this goal (mean change 45 m, 95% CI 29–62 m vs. 16 m, 95% CI 4–28 m; F1,120 = 8.280, p = 0.005). The ABI cohort showed larger 6MWT improvements than the CP cohort. In this multicentre observational cohort, gait-function measures were higher after the VR treadmill-based biofeedback training series than before. Pre–post improvements were larger in participants with gait-function-related goals and in those with ABI, whereas associations with the amount and frequency of sessions were weak. Given the observational design and concurrent care, the results highlight the potential clinical utility of GRAIL as an enjoyable, motivating biofeedback environment in which gait-related outcomes can improve over a training series.

Indexed as

Biofeedback, PsychologyBrain InjuriesCerebral PalsyExercise TherapyGaitVirtual RealityAdolescentChildFemaleHumansMaleRetrospective StudiesTreatment OutcomeWalkingAcquired brain injuryBiofeedback trainingCerebral palsyGait functionGRAILVirtual reality training

Identifiers

PMID41372400
PMCPMC12808141

What OpenQuestion holds

Textmetadata
LicenceCC BY-NC-ND
Read underepoch 390

Registered trials

None linked

Read under generation 80e0d062 · epoch 390. Bibliography from PubMed, PubMed Central and OpenAlex; grants from NIH RePORTER; trial links from ClinicalTrials.gov; estimates, votes and beliefs from the OpenQuestion graph.