Two Exercise Programs for Arm Use in Children With Spastic Cerebral Palsy

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 children aged 6 to 12 years with spastic diplegic cerebral palsy. It tests two balance and body-position exercises for arm and hand function.

Age

6 to 12 years

Sex

Boys and girls can both join.

Disease stage

Spastic diplegic cerebral palsy with grade 1 spasticity on the modified Ashworth scale.

Biomarker or test result

Normal I.Q. greater than 70, assessed by a psychologist. The child can follow commands.

Main reasons for not taking part

• Any other neurological impairment
• Audio visual impairment

The registry criteria, word for word

Check if you might fit

Answer for yourself. This is not a decision: only the study team can say whether you can take part.

• Are you between 6 and 12 years old?YesNo

What the trial wants to find out

Spastic Cerebral Palsy (CP) is the leading cause of upper motor neuron syndrome (UMN) in children. The primary factors contributing to motor behavior disorders in these children are impairments in motor control and muscle strength. These impairments result in changes in muscle growth and hinder the development of motor skills, leading to reduced muscle force generation and decreased flexibility. Spastic cerebral palsy is the most prevalent type, affecting 77% of individuals with CP, and is caused by damage to the motor cortex and pyramidal tracts. The motor cortex is responsible for transmitting voluntary movement signals from the brain to the muscles. Characteristics of spastic cerebral palsy include stiff muscles (hypertonia), which can cause jerky and repetitive limb movements (spasticity). Additionally, individuals with CP often have difficulties in processing somatosensory and proprioceptive information. Proprioceptive training refers to interventions aimed at enhancing proprioceptive function to ultimately improve motor performance, a concept that has been explored in studies focused on sports injuries. In this study, we will utilize two proprioceptive exercises-rhythmic stabilization and ball balancing-to promote functional improvement in the upper extremities of children with spastic CP.

The 2 groups in the trial

• Rhythmic Stabilization groupTreatment being tested

  The CP child will positions his/her upper extremity anywhere in its available range of motion and holds an isometric contraction. The physiotherapist will provide enough resistance to cause the child to react, but not enough to break the isometric contraction. As the child progresses, length of time of rhythmic stabilization increases, the therapist's resistance increases, and amount of contact area between therapist's hands and child's upper extremity decreases. The exercise program consisted of 30-minute sessions per week for six weeks

  Treatment: Rhythmic Stabilization

• Ball Balancing groupTreatment being tested

  Have the child balance on his/her hands on a 48-inch Gymnastic ball, first with eyes open, then closed. Progress from both hands on one large ball to each hand on separate balls and then to the weaker arm on one ball. Also, progress through the four body positions. With his/her eyes open, then closed. If he/she misses the position, he/she opens his/her eyes and actively moves to the desired position. Use a spotter, especially when doing this exercise for the first time or changing body positions, since the patient may fall off the Gymnastic ball. Start with one repetition of 10 seconds and progress to three to five repetitions of 60 seconds each and this will be done till 6 weeks

  Treatment: Ball Balancing