Rhythmic Stabilization Versus Ball Balancing

Summary

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.

Conditions

• Spastic Cerebral Palsy (sCP)

Interventions

OTHER

Rhythmic Stabilization

Rhythmic Stabilization Program for Children with Cerebral Palsy Objective: Enhance upper extremity strength and stability through rhythmic stabilization exercises. Program Overview: Duration: 30-minute sessions Frequency: Once per week for 6 weeks Exercise Steps: Positioning: The child positions their upper extremity within their available range of motion. Isometric Contraction: The child holds an isometric contraction, maintaining the position without movement. Therapist's Role: Apply resistance that is sufficient to elicit a reaction but not enough to disrupt the isometric contraction. Progression: Gradually increase the duration of the isometric hold. Increase the amount of resistance applied. Decrease the contact area between the therapist's hands and the child's upper extremity to enhance stability challenges. Monitoring and Adjustments: Assess the child's ability to maintain the contraction and adapt the resistance and support as needed. Encourage the child's engagement.

OTHER

Ball Balancing

Ball Balancing Program Objective: Improve balance and stability. Equipment: 48-inch gymnastic ball Program Details: * Duration: 6 weeks * Frequency: As needed Steps: 1. Initial Balance: * Eyes Open: Balance on hands for 10 seconds. * Progression: Increase to 3-5 repetitions of 60 seconds. 2. Eyes Closed: Repeat the above exercise with eyes closed. 3. Variations: * Both Hands on One Ball * Each Hand on Separate Balls * Weaker Arm on One Ball 4. Body Positions: Progress through four body positions with eyes open, then closed. 5. Correction: If the child misses a position, they open their eyes and reposition actively.

Sponsors & Collaborators

• Riphah International University

  lead OTHER

Principal Investigators

• Masifah Kashif, MS* · Riphah International University

Study Design

Allocation

RANDOMIZED

Purpose

TREATMENT

Masking

SINGLE

Model

PARALLEL

Eligibility

Min Age

6 Years

Max Age

12 Years

Sex

ALL

Healthy Volunteers

No

Timeline & Regulatory

Start

2024-09-25

Primary Completion

2024-12-02

Completion

2025-01-02

Countries

• Pakistan

Study Locations