Acute effects of a rehabilitation dog on walking ability, confidence, safety and enjoyment in children with cerebral palsy

Children with cerebral palsy (CP) face challenges in their walking and balance, which can be addressed through rehabilitation. Working with a rehabilitation dog as dynamic walking support as part of rehabilitation is novel, but the influence of a rehabilitation dog on walking is unknown in CP. A repeated-measures, single time point design included ambulatory (GMFCS I-II) children with CP (n = 11; 7–18 years). Spatiotemporal parameters including speed, cadence, step length, and relative (%) stance, swing, and double-support (DS) time were measured while participants walked with (WD) and without (ND) a rehabilitation dog. Visual Analog Scales (VAS) captured perceived change in enjoyment, confidence, safety, and comfort while walking WD and ND. Paired t-tests evaluated differences between walking WD and ND. Spatiotemporal parameters were highly variable WD and ND with no significant differences in means and SDs. VAS scores significantly increased (p ≥ 0.05) for enjoyment, comfort, and safety when walking with the dog. Walking with a rehabilitation dog significantly improves children’s perceived comfort, safety, and enjoyment when walking. Spatiotemporal walking parameters might be affected by walking with the dog. Further evaluation of interventions incorporating a rehabilitation dog would inform how a service dog could impact walking rehabilitation and performance. Children with cerebral palsy safely walked with a rehabilitation dog, enhancing comfort, safety, and enjoyment during a first-time interaction.Children with cerebral palsy safely walked with a rehabilitation dog, enhancing comfort, safety, and enjoyment during a first-time interaction.Responses to walking with a rehabilitation dog varied across children with cerebral palsy, underscoring the need for individualized assessment of gait and postural changes.Clinicians should monitor spatiotemporal variability and walking speed when working with rehabilitation dogs to ensure walking performance is not negatively impacted. Children with cerebral palsy safely walked with a rehabilitation dog, enhancing comfort, safety, and enjoyment during a first-time interaction. Children with cerebral palsy safely walked with a rehabilitation dog, enhancing comfort, safety, and enjoyment during a first-time interaction. Responses to walking with a rehabilitation dog varied across children with cerebral palsy, underscoring the need for individualized assessment of gait and postural changes. Clinicians should monitor spatiotemporal variability and walking speed when working with rehabilitation dogs to ensure walking performance is not negatively impacted.