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Improving Stretching Interventions for Children With Cerebral Palsy

NCT02766491 · Status: UNKNOWN · Phase: NA · Type: INTERVENTIONAL · Enrollment: 30

Last updated 2016-05-09

No results posted yet for this study

Summary

Cerebral palsy (CP) has a prevalence of 1.5-3 per 1000 live births, making it the most common neurological disorder among children in Europe. One of the most frequently observed problems in CP is hypertonia, i.e. increased muscle tension, which can result in contractures. Stretching therapies are widely used as a treatment for contractures, but with highly variable success. Therefore, efforts are needed to improve the efficacy of stretching interventions. The investigators hypothesise that increasing the stiffness of the tendon relative to the muscle, by resistance training, prior to stretching will improve the efficacy of stretching interventions in children with CP. In a RCT design the investigators will compare a group of children receiving a combined strengthening-stretching intervention of the calf muscle to a control group receiving conventional stretching exercises in combination with upper limb exercises. Outcome measures will include muscle-tendon structure and gait analysis to assess functional improvements. This research will improve the understanding of muscle responses to stretching interventions in children with CP and can lead to more effective stretching therapies.

Conditions

  • Cerebral Palsy

Interventions

OTHER

Strengthening and stretching

Strengthening exercises will be performed 4 times a week for 10 weeks. Single leg heel raises will be the preferred exercise performed. The group of participants will have a wide range of strength and functional abilities, this will be accounted for with individualised programmes. The exercise load can be reduced by switching to bilateral heel raises, giving external support, reducing the range of motion or performing the heel raises while seated. Exercise load will be progressively increased by adding weight in the form of water bottles to a rucksack worn on the participant's back. For the final six weeks of the intervention, stretching exercises of the calf muscles will be performed.

OTHER

conventional stretching

This group will perform seated biceps curls 4 times a week for 10 weeks, where extra load can be added progressively by holding water bottles in the hand. For the final six weeks of the intervention, stretching exercises of the calf muscles will be performed.

Sponsors & Collaborators

  • Liverpool John Moores University

    lead OTHER

Principal Investigators

  • Thomas D O'Brien, PhD · Liverpool John Moores University

Study Design

Allocation
RANDOMIZED
Purpose
TREATMENT
Masking
NONE
Model
PARALLEL

Eligibility

Min Age
7 Years
Max Age
14 Years
Sex
ALL
Healthy Volunteers
No

Timeline & Regulatory

Start
2016-06-30
Primary Completion
2016-10-31
Completion
2016-12-31

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Read the full study record

This page highlights key information. For complete eligibility criteria, study locations, investigator contacts, and the full protocol, visit the original record on ClinicalTrials.gov.

View NCT02766491 on ClinicalTrials.gov