NCT07350096

The Effects of Intensive Physiotherapy in Children With Spastic Cerebral Palsy

The Effects of Intensive Physiotherapy on Postural Control and Selective Motor Control of the Upper and Lower Extremities in Children With Spastic Cerebral Palsy

• Status: Completed
• Phase: N/A
• Study type: Interventional
• Enrollment: 30 (actual)
• Sponsor: Medipol University · Academic / Other
• Sex: All
• Age: 4 Years – 8 Years
• Healthy volunteers: Not accepted

Summary

The aim of this study is to investigate the effects of a 2-week Neurodevelopmental Treatment (NDT)-based intensive physiotherapy program with active participation on postural control and selective motor control of the lower and upper extremities in children diagnosed with spastic cerebral palsy. Thirty children with spastic type cerebral palsy, aged between 4 and 8 years, and classified as level II, III, or IV according to the Gross Motor Function Classification System (GMFCS), will be included in the study. Participants will be randomized into two groups. The experimental group will receive an NDT-based intensive physiotherapy program with active participation for 2 weeks, 6 days per week, 2 sessions per day, with each session lasting 50 minutes. The control group will receive a conventional physiotherapy program for 2 weeks, 3 days per week, once per day, with each session lasting 45 minutes. Outcome measures will be assessed before and after the intervention period and will include the Seated Postural Control Measure-Function (SPCM-Function), Selective Control Assessment of the Lower Extremity (SCALE), Selective Control of the Upper Extremity Scale (SCUES), Modified Ashworth Scale (MAS), Gross Motor Function Measure-88 (GMFM-88) and the Pediatric Quality of Life Inventory (PedsQL).

Detailed description

This study was not prospectively registered in a public trials registry. Registration was completed retrospectively after data collection had been completed.

Conditions

• Cerebral Palsy (CP)

Interventions

Type	Name	Description
BEHAVIORAL	Neurodevelopmental Therapy	Intervention components included: * Weight-shifting and reaching activities in crawling, sitting, kneeling, and standing positions * Functional and symmetrical reaching tasks in different postures * Actively assisted transitions between postures * Balance training and facilitation of protective reactions in various positions * Core stabilization exercises * Isolated strengthening exercises for upper and lower extremities * Proprioceptive training exercises Frequency: 6 days per week Sessions: 2 sessions per day Session duration: 50 minutes Total sessions: 24
BEHAVIORAL	Conventional Therapy	Intervention components included: * Stretching and strengthening exercises * Passive and active range of motion exercises * Balance and coordination exercises in different positions * Electrotherapy applications Frequency: 3 days per week Sessions: 1 session per day Session duration: 45 minutes Total sessions: 6

Timeline

• Start date: 2020-02-15
• Primary completion: 2021-03-01
• Completion: 2021-03-01
• First posted: 2026-01-20
• Last updated: 2026-01-20

Locations

1 site across 1 country: Turkey (Türkiye)