Training the calf stretch reflex in adults with spastic cerebral palsy
Tests reflex training to lower a calf muscle reflex in adults with spastic cerebral palsy.
Key facts
- Who runs it
- Burke Medical Research Institute
- Where
- White Plains, United StatesSee the site
- Trial code
- Registry title
- Operant Conditioning of the Soleus Stretch Reflex in Adults With Cerebral Palsy
- Status
- Recruiting
- People taking part
- 12 people, planned
- Started
- 30 Sept 2022
- Expected to end
- 31 Dec 2026
- Type of study
- Interventional
- Treatments tested
- Spinal reflex conditioning
- Record updated
- 26 September 2023
Who can take part
AI summary
From the trial's eligibility criteria. Machine-read from the registry text on this page, so it can be wrong. The registry text below and the trial team decide who can take part.
The trial is looking for adults with spastic cerebral palsy who can walk. They will train to lower a calf muscle reflex.
- Age
- 18 years and older
- Sex
- All sexes
- Disease stage
- Spastic cerebral palsy, Gross Motor Function Classification System level I-III. Must be able to walk at least 10 meters, with or without a walking aid. Stable medical background.
- Earlier treatment
- Current medicines must stay the same for 3 months. No Botox within 2 months of the study. No past ankle surgery in the affected leg (such as dorsal root rhizotomy). No regular electrical stimulation of leg muscles.
- Biomarker or test result
- The H-reflex (a calf muscle reflex triggered by a small electric pulse) must be measurable.
Main reasons for not taking part
- Pregnancy
- Uncontrolled diabetes or a history of heart conditions
- Current use of seizure medicines
- Metal implants, cochlear implants, pacemakers or other implanted devices
- Skin disorders, damaged skin or latex allergy
The registry criteria, word for word
Show all 24 criteriaShow less
Who can take part
- Age 18 and above
- Diagnosis of spastic Cerebral Palsy
- Gross Motor Function Classification System level I-III
- Stable medical background
- Current medication will remain unchanged for 3 months
- Provides informed consent
- can walk at least 10 meters with or without assistive device
- meets minimum study procedure requirements (elicitation of H-reflex)
Who cannot take part
- Any metal or magnetic components in the head (surgical clips, metal work etc.)
- uncontrolled diabetes
- History of cardiac conditions
- Implanted device or cardiac pacemakers (applicable for DS8R too)
- Skin disorders
- Allergy to latex (tape)
- No history of seizure after age 2 years
- Pregnancy
- weak dorsiflexion
- cognitive deficits that interfere with study procedure and steps for completion
- Botox within 2 months of the study
- H/O ankle surgeries in affected leg (Dorsal root rhizotomy etc.)
- regular use of electrical stimulation to lower extremity muscles
- Cochlear or metal implantations on body
- Current use of antiseizure medicines
- Damaged skin (wounds, broken skin, or recent scar tissue)
Where in United States
- Burke Neurological InstituteWhite Plains, United StatesContact: Kathleen Friel, PhDTaking people
About the trial
What the trial wants to find out
12 adults with spastic CP will complete 6 baseline sessions and 24 down conditioning sessions held 3 times/week. All clinical and physiological assessments collected at baseline will be reassessed after study completion, and follow ups after 2 weeks, 1 month and 3 months. The soleus H reflex (electric analogue of the stretch reflex) will be elicited in all sessions. In each session, participants will complete 20 baseline trials and 225 down conditioning trials to decrease the magnitude of the H-Reflex.
The group in the trial
- Spinal reflex conditioningTreatment being tested
The OC intervention includes 6 baseline sessions and 24 conditioning/ no conditioning sessions held 3 times/week. To elicit an H-reflex, participants will be asked to stand in a comfortable position. Small pulses of energy will be applied to a nerve in the leg called the tibial nerve. We will record when the participant maintains leg muscle activity. During the intervention, participants will be trained to decrease their reflex in their calf.
Questions to ask the study team
- How often do I need to come in, and for how long each time?
- Are travel costs paid?
- Can I keep my own doctor?
- What happens if I want to stop?
Contact the study team: see the registry record → Contacts and Locations
Print a page for my doctorData and sources
- Registry record
- Listed on ClinicalTrials.gov.
- Official title
- Operant Conditioning of the Soleus Stretch Reflex in Adults With Cerebral Palsy
- Plain-language title
- Training the calf stretch reflex in adults with spastic cerebral palsyGenerated from the registry record. The registry title is the official one.
- AI summary
- From the trial's eligibility criteria. Read by machine on 14 November 2026.
- Record updated
- 26 September 2023