Objective
To analyze how Pilates exercises affect standing, walking, and balance in children with diplegic cerebral palsy throughout a 10-week program.
Methods
We included 40 children aged 7–9 years with diplegic cerebral palsy, and randomly allocated them into two groups of the same size: conventional therapy group (group A) and conventional therapy+Pilates group (group B). We administered the same conventional physical therapy program to both groups for 45 minutes, with group B receiving additional Pilates exercises for 45 minutes. Both groups attended the intervention program three times/week for 10 weeks. We used the Growth Motor Function Measure Scale (GMFM-88) to evaluate standing and walking (Dimensions D and E), and the Pediatric Balance Scale to evaluate balance function before and after treatment.
Results
Comparison of the average values of all measured variables before and after therapy showed a statistically significant difference (p<0.05) between the two groups. All measured variables showed a significant difference between groups A and B, in favor of group B (p<0.05).
Conclusion
Pilates exercise in addition to conventional therapy is more effective in improving balance and gross motor function in children with diplegic cerebral palsy than the conventional therapy alone.

Citations

• Lower Limb Training Threshold Dose and Motor Learning Strategy Reporting in Children With Cerebral Palsy
  Matthew Haddon, Isabella Pessóta Sudati, Jizelle Kenworthy-Groen, Dayna Pool, Lauren O’Connor, Robert Ware, Cristina Lee, Kate Dolling, Leanne Sakzewski
  Pediatric Physical Therapy.2026; 38(1): 2.     CrossRef
• Effects of mind-body exercise in children with cerebral palsy—A systematic review and meta-analysis
  Ye Long, Xinping Jiang, Juan Li, Bingxue Liu
  Complementary Therapies in Clinical Practice.2025; 58: 101930.     CrossRef
• Virtual Reality Rehabilitation Helps to Improve Postural Balance in Children with Autism Spectrum Disorder: A Randomized Control Trial
  Mohamed A. Abdel Ghafar, Osama R. Abdelraouf, Eman M. Harraz, Mohamed K. Seyam, Walaa E. Morsy, Wafaa Mahmoud Amin, Hanaa Mohsen Abd-Elfattah
  Physical & Occupational Therapy In Pediatrics.2025; 45(4): 423.     CrossRef
• Rehabilitation techniques to improve lower limb function for children with bilateral spastic cerebral palsy: a systematic review and meta-analysis
  Huijuan Lin, Xiaoying Zhang, Tingting Chen, Kaishou Xu
  Neuroscience.2025; 588: 11.     CrossRef
• Optimization of Postural Control, Balance, and Mobility in Children with Cerebral Palsy: A Randomized Comparative Analysis of Independent and Integrated Effects of Pilates and Plyometrics
  Ragab K. Elnaggar, Rodrigo Ramirez-Campillo, Alshimaa R. Azab, Saud M. Alrawaili, Mshari Alghadier, Mazyad A. Alotaibi, Ahmed S. Alhowimel, Mohamed S. Abdrabo, Mohammed F. Elbanna, Ahmed M. Aboeleneen, Walaa E. Morsy
  Children.2024; 11(2): 243.     CrossRef
• Differences in the effectiveness of adding Bobath Exercise with (task-oriented training) on the balance of children with Cerebral Palsy
  Suharto Anwar, Sri Saadiyah Leksonowati, Suriani Suriani, Dwi Rustianto
  International Journal of Multidisciplinary Approach Research and Science.2024; 2(02): 667.     CrossRef
• Effects of Standing Board on Antigravity Muscles in Children with Cerebral Palsy Aging between 3 to 10 Years; A Multi-Centered Randomized Control Trial
  Aqsa Faiz, Bushra Zaman, Mubushara Afzal, Malik Osama, Mustafa Zaveri
  Pakistan BioMedical Journal.2024; : 11.     CrossRef
• Effect of Pilates exercises on balance and gross motor coordination in children with Down syndrome
  Alaa AL-Nemr, Shimaa Reffat
  Acta Neurologica Belgica.2024; 124(5): 1499.     CrossRef
• Association Between Calf Muscle Tone, Plantar Surface Area, and Gross Motor Function in Children with Spastic Diplegic Cerebral Palsy
  Hisham Hussein, Amsha Alshammari, Hand Alshammari, Monira Aldhahi, Yahya Suwaidi, Ahmed Ibrahim
  International Journal of General Medicine.2024; Volume 17: 4037.     CrossRef
• Effects of Pilates Exercise Training on Static Balance and Lower Limbs Proprioception in Adult Females With and Without Flexible Flatfeet
  Maryam Ghorbani, Rasoul Yaali, Hassan Sadeghi, Urs Granacher
  Foot & Ankle Specialist.2024;[Epub]     CrossRef
• Effects of Modified Pilates Training on Hemodynamic Responses in Children with Cerebral Palsy: A Single-Blinded Randomised Controlled Study
  Hatice Adıgüzel, Bülent Elbasan
  Medical Records.2024; 6(3): 426.     CrossRef
• Effects of Pilates in children and adolescents – A systematic review and meta-analysis
  Fabíola Unbehaun Cibinello, Jessica Caroliny de Jesus Neves, Paola Janeiro Valenciano, Dirce Shizuko Fujisawa, Carlos Augusto Marçal Camillo
  Journal of Bodywork and Movement Therapies.2023; 35: 400.     CrossRef
• An Intensive Combination of Bobath Therapy and Core Stability Exercises Is More Effective In Improving the Sitting Balance of Cerebral Palsy Children
  Suharto Anwar, Suriani Suriani, Asmawati Gasma
  International Journal of Multidisciplinary Approach Research and Science.2023; 1(03): 527.     CrossRef