The Effectiveness of Neurodevelopmental Treatment (Bobath) and Functional Physiotherapy in Children With Cerebral Palsy.

Summary

Cerebral palsy is one of the most common causes of physical disability in childhood and is often associated with impaired trunk control, reduced upper limb strength, and limitations in functional mobility and daily activities. Trunk control is essential for postural stability and directly influences upper limb function and the ability to perform goal-directed tasks.

Neurodevelopmental Treatment (NDT/Bobath) and functional physiotherapy are widely used approaches in pediatric neurorehabilitation. NDT/Bobath focuses on facilitating postural control and promoting efficient movement patterns, while functional physiotherapy emphasizes task-specific training and the improvement of motor performance through meaningful activities. However, evidence comparing the effectiveness of these approaches on trunk control and upper arm strength remains limited.

This study aims to investigate and compare the effectiveness of Neurodevelopmental Treatment (NDT/Bobath) and functional physiotherapy on upper arm strength and trunk control in children with cerebral palsy. Participants will be allocated to different intervention groups, with each group receiving one of the two therapeutic approaches.

Additionally, wearable Inertial Measurement Units (IMUs) will be used to provide objective and quantitative assessment of trunk movement under both static (sitting) and dynamic (functional movement) conditions.

We hypothesize that both intervention groups will demonstrate improvements in trunk control and upper arm strength, with potential differences in the magnitude of improvement between the two approaches. Furthermore, IMU-based measurements are expected to detect subtle changes in movement quality that may not be captured by traditional clinical assessment tools.

The findings of this study may contribute to a better understanding of the comparative effectiveness of commonly used therapeutic approaches and support evidence-based decision-making in pediatric rehabilitation.

Conditions

• Cerebral Palsy (CP)

Interventions

OTHER

Neurodevelopmental Treatment

The intervention consists of Neurodevelopmental Treatment (NDT/Bobath) focused on optimizing sensorimotor function through task-specific training and therapeutic handling. The approach emphasizes the inhibition of abnormal reflex patterns and the facilitation of normal postural control and voluntary movement. Dosage/Intensity: Sessions will last 60' Frequency: Participants will receive treatment 2 times a week Total Duration: The intervention period will span 12 weeks

OTHER

Functional Physiotherapy

The intervention focuses on Functional Physiotherapy (FP), a task-oriented approach aimed at improving the performance of specific daily activities. Unlike neurofacilitation techniques, FP emphasizes repetitive practice of functional tasks in a real-world context. Dosage/Intensity: Sessions will last 60' Frequency: Participants will receive treatment 2 times a week Total Duration: The intervention period will span 12 weeks

Sponsors & Collaborators

• University of Thessaly

  lead OTHER

Study Design

Allocation

NON_RANDOMIZED

Purpose

OTHER

Masking

NONE

Model

PARALLEL

Eligibility

Min Age

4 Years

Max Age

12 Years

Sex

ALL

Healthy Volunteers

No

Timeline & Regulatory

Start

2026-04-15

Primary Completion

2026-07-30

Completion

2026-12-30