MedTrace Logo

Expiratory Muscle Training in Children With Cerebral Palsy

NCT07048223 · Status: NOT_YET_RECRUITING · Phase: NA · Type: INTERVENTIONAL · Enrollment: 20

Last updated 2025-07-22

No results posted yet for this study

Summary

This study aims to examine the effects of expiratory muscle training on posture, trunk control, balance, selective motor control, and respiratory function in children with spastic-type cerebral palsy (CP). The research focuses on evaluating an innovative rehabilitation approach that addresses common challenges observed in children with CP, such as trunk instability, reduced respiratory capacity, and postural abnormalities.

In individuals with CP, the ineffective use of respiratory muscles affects not only the respiratory system but also trunk control and overall motor performance. While most existing studies emphasize inspiratory muscle training, research on expiratory muscle training remains limited. Therefore, this study seeks to fill this gap by investigating the neuromotor effects of expiratory muscle training-an emerging component of respiratory rehabilitation-in children with CP.

Conditions

  • Cerebral Palsy (CP)

Interventions

BEHAVIORAL

Expiratory Muscle Training

In the expiratory muscle training group, participants will receive a respiratory exercise program consisting of breathing control, diaphragmatic breathing, and thoracic expansion exercises. In addition, expiratory muscle training (EMT) will be performed using the POWERbreathe EX1 device at 50% of each participant's measured maximal expiratory pressure (MEP). Participants will be instructed to perform 25 repetitions per session, structured as 5 cycles of 5 breaths with 1-minute rest intervals between each cycle. The training will be performed daily at home for a duration of 8 weeks. Compliance will be monitored through exercise tracking forms. To ensure progressive loading, MEP will be reassessed every 10 days, and the resistance of the device will be adjusted accordingly. Participants will be invited for in-person interim evaluations at these 10-day intervals to update their training parameters.

BEHAVIORAL

Sham Expiratory Muscle Training

In the sham expiratory muscle training group, participants will perform a respiratory exercise program including breathing control, diaphragmatic breathing, and thoracic expansion exercises. In addition, sham expiratory muscle training will be administered using the POWERbreathe EX1 device set at 10% of the participant's measured maximal expiratory pressure (MEP), providing minimal resistance. Participants will be instructed to perform the exercises daily at home for a period of 8 weeks. Compliance will be monitored through exercise tracking forms. No progressive loading or resistance adjustments will be made during the intervention period.

Sponsors & Collaborators

  • Istinye University

    lead OTHER

Principal Investigators

  • Dilek ÇOKAR · Istinye University

Study Design

Allocation
RANDOMIZED
Purpose
TREATMENT
Masking
SINGLE
Model
PARALLEL

Eligibility

Min Age
12 Years
Max Age
18 Years
Sex
ALL
Healthy Volunteers
No

Timeline & Regulatory

Start
2025-07-30
Primary Completion
2026-01-30
Completion
2026-03-30

More Related Trials

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 NCT07048223 on ClinicalTrials.gov