NCT06996028

LIFT & PEDALS on Balance and Mobility in Children With CP

Comparative Effects of (LIFT) Lower-extremity Functional Training and (PEDALS) Pediatric Endurance and Limb Strengthening on Balance and Mobility in Children With Cerebral Palsy

• Status: Recruiting
• Phase: N/A
• Study type: Interventional
• Enrollment: 20 (estimated)
• Sponsor: Riphah International University · Academic / Other
• Sex: All
• Age: 6 Years – 12 Years
• Healthy volunteers: Not accepted

Summary

Children with cerebral palsy (CP) have impaired balance due to poor postural control and coordination, increasing fall risk and limiting daily activities. This randomized controlled trial aims to compare the effects of Lower-Extremity Functional Training (LIFT) and Pediatric Endurance and Limb Strengthening (PEDALS) on balance and mobility in children with diplegic CP. A total of 22 children (ages 6-12) from Adil Special School, Sargodha, will be randomly assigned to two groups. One group will perform exercises targeting strength, coordination, gait, and balance; the other will perform pedaling exercises. Pre- and post-intervention assessments will include the 6-Minute Walk Test, GMFM-88, and Pediatric Balance Scale. Data will be analyzed using SPSS 23

Detailed description

Balance in children with CP is impaired by poor postural control mechanism. Earlier studies on balance have found that children with CP had poor static and dynamic balance reactions than those of typically developing children . These balance problems increase risk of falls, which further affected children with cerebral palsy in performance of activities of daily living mobility and participation. Cerebral palsy also causes coordination problems. Brain can not properly send messages to muscles about how to move in smooth and well coordinated ways. The aim of the study is to analyse comparative effects of (LIFT) lower-extremity functional training and (PEDALS) pediatric endurance and limb strenghtening on balance and mobility in children with cerebral palsy The current study will be randomized control trial; data will be collected from Sargodha Adil Special School and Rehabilitation Centre.The study will include 22 patients equally divided in two groups and randomly allocated. Inclusion criteria for the study will be ability to walk independently, ability to follow 2-step instructions and complete testing. Age between 6 and 12 years. Ability to participate in group training program and children with diplegic cerebral palsy. Patients with cognitive delay,visual problems. Seizures, or if there is change in medication will be expected during the study or if patient is suffering from disease that interfered with physical activity will be excluded from the study. One experimental group will perform 4 domains of exercises (strengthening, coordination, gait and balance). In second experimental group pedalling exercise will be performed. Data collection will be done before and after intervention. Tools used for data collection will be 6 minute walk test, GMFM88, Pediatric balance scale. Data will be analysed through SPSS version 23.00.

Conditions

• CP

Interventions

Type	Name	Description
OTHER	Strengthening domain, Balance domain, Coordination domain, Gait domain	The experimental group will engage in a structured exercise program targeting strength, balance, gait, and coordination. Strength exercises include sit-to-stand, step-ups, vertical jumping, and stair climbing. Balance training involves tandem walking, one-leg standing, and balancing on unstable surfaces. Gait exercises include bridging, clamshells, and heel rises, while coordination activities involve ball kicking, hopping through squares, and galloping/skipping. The program runs for 2 hours per day, 5 days a week, over 6 weeks, with sessions optionally split into shorter segments.
OTHER	Lower extremity strengthening, Cardiorespiratory endurance	Group B will follow the PEDALS program, involving stationary cycling three times a week for 30 minutes per session. Each session includes lower-limb strengthening with gradual resistance progression and cardiorespiratory endurance training aimed at increasing cycling duration to 15-30 minutes. Proper bike setup and participant support are ensured, and each session ends with a cool-down period of pedaling without resistance until heart rate returns near baseline.

Timeline

• Start date: 2025-05-15
• Primary completion: 2025-06-29
• Completion: 2025-07-15
• First posted: 2025-05-30
• Last updated: 2025-05-30

Locations

1 site across 1 country: Pakistan