conventional therapy

Group 1 (n = 13) received conventional therapy (65 min, 2 days/week ×8) and group 2 (n = 13) received 25 minutes of robot-assisted gait training (RoboGait®) in addition to conventional therapy (40 min, 2 days/week ×8).

Conventional therapy sessions that were planned by a physiotherapist for the children were conducted by a physiotherapist experienced in paediatrics. The therapy sessions mainly focused on functions such as the regulation of muscle tone, correction of posture, elimination of stiffness, muscle strengthening, balance/coordination training and mobilisation (Figure 2). The sessions were planned to last 40 minutes.

GMFCS was used to determine the extent and severity of CP in order to identify the inclusion criteria. The 5-level classification system that was developed in 1997 and expanded in 2007 by Palisano et al. was used to classify gross motor functions in patients with CP (7). The expanded Turkish version of GMFCS was prepared by Günel et al. (8). Levels of this classification are outlined below:

Level I: Walks without limitations Level II: Walks with limitations Level III: Walks with the use of hand-held mobility equipment Level IV: Self-mobility is limited but can use a powered mobility device Level V: Carried on a manual 'wheelchair' GMFCS levels of children with CP were studied under 5 levels in this study. Children with CP who were level 2 and above were included

This test measures various components such as gait speed, postural control, functional mobility and balance (12). In the evaluation, a chair with a backrest but no armrests was placed at a 3-m distance from the wall and the children were positioned with hips and knees in 90° flexion. The children were asked to stand up, walk and touch the picture on the wall and then go back and sit down. The activity was shown and explained to the children before starting the test. Then, the children were asked to complete this activity twice. The time taken by the children to stand up from the chair, perform the activity and sit down was noted. The mean of the two test results was used for the analysis. Two children who were level 5 according to GMFCS were not included in this assessment.

WeeFIM was used to evaluate the level of functional skills in children with CP. It consists of 18 items in six domains including sphincter control, self-care, transfer, communication, locomotion, cognition and social interaction. Each item in these domains is scored from 1 to 7, considering whether the child is able to perform the relevant functional task in time with or without requiring a device or assistance. The item is scored 1 point if a child requires total assistance while performing the task and 7 if a child independently performs the task safely and in time. The items are scored from 1 to 7 depending on the requirement for assistance. Therefore, the lowest score is 18 (completely dependent) and the highest score is 126 (completely independent) (11).