Strength Training Using Neuromuscular Electrical Stimulation For Children With Cerebral Palsy

NCT ID: NCT00356343

Last Updated: 2011-01-11

Study Results

Results pending

The study team has not published outcome measurements, participant flow, or safety data for this trial yet. Check back later for updates.

Basic Information

Get a concise snapshot of the trial, including recruitment status, study phase, enrollment targets, and key timeline milestones.

Recruitment Status

UNKNOWN

Clinical Phase

PHASE1

Total Enrollment

45 participants

Study Classification

INTERVENTIONAL

Study Start Date

2004-07-31

Brief Summary

Review the sponsor-provided synopsis that highlights what the study is about and why it is being conducted.

The purpose of this study is to determine if using high-intensity, short-duration, intermittent neuromuscular electrical stimulation (NMES) is better than volitional exercise in increasing quadriceps femoris and triceps surae force-generating potential and gross motor function in children with cerebral palsy.

Detailed Description

Dive into the extended narrative that explains the scientific background, objectives, and procedures in greater depth.

The overall goal of this study is to determine if using high-intensity, short-duration, intermittent neuromuscular electrical stimulation (NMES) is better than volitional exercise in increasing quadriceps femoris and triceps surae force-generating potential and gross motor function in children with cerebral palsy. This study consists of a randomized controlled trial in which the effects of NMES applied to the quadriceps femoris and triceps surae are compared to the effects of volitional isometric exercise and a non-exercising control group. This project assesses the ability of NMES to increase muscle force generating ability, the mechanisms behind changes in force generating ability, and the effects of training on spatiotemporal parameters of gait and gross motor function in children with cerebral palsy.

Subjects is the NMES group will be implanted with percutaneous electrodes in the medial and lateral heads of the gastrocnemius and the quadriceps (3 electrodes in each lower extremity, implanted bilaterally). During the intervention phase, these subjects will undergo 15 electrically-elicited contractions in each of the implanted muscle groups three times/week (at home), while positioned on an exercise board to maintain good alignment and facilitate isometric contractions. Subjects in the volitional group will perform 15 isometric contractions in each muscle group (quadriceps, triceps surae), while positioned on an exercise board. The non-exercise control group will continue with typical activities, but no intervention will be administered. Subjects are assessed at baseline, 6 weeks into the intervention, 12 weeks into the intervention (at which point the intervention is withdrawn), and at a follow-up assessment 12 weeks after the withdrawal of the intervention.

Conditions

See the medical conditions and disease areas that this research is targeting or investigating.

Spastic Diplegic Cerebral Palsy

Study Design

Understand how the trial is structured, including allocation methods, masking strategies, primary purpose, and other design elements.

Allocation Method

RANDOMIZED

Intervention Model

SINGLE_GROUP

Primary Study Purpose

TREATMENT

Blinding Strategy

SINGLE

Outcome Assessors

Study Groups

Review each arm or cohort in the study, along with the interventions and objectives associated with them.

NMES Strengthening Group

Subjects will complete 12 weeks of NMES isometric strength training using implanted electrodes in bilateral quadriceps and triceps surae muscles.

Group Type EXPERIMENTAL

NMES Strength Training

Intervention Type DEVICE

Subjects will complete 12 weeks of NMES isometric strength training using implanted electrodes in bilateral quadriceps and triceps surae muscles.

Control Group

No Intervention Control Group

Group Type NO_INTERVENTION

No interventions assigned to this group

Volitional Strengthening

Subjects will complete 12 weeks of volitional isometric strength training of bilateral quadriceps and triceps surae muscles.

Group Type ACTIVE_COMPARATOR

Volitional Strength Training

Intervention Type OTHER

Subjects will complete 12 weeks of volitional isometric strength training of bilateral quadriceps and triceps surae muscles.

Interventions

Learn about the drugs, procedures, or behavioral strategies being tested and how they are applied within this trial.

NMES Strength Training

Subjects will complete 12 weeks of NMES isometric strength training using implanted electrodes in bilateral quadriceps and triceps surae muscles.

Intervention Type DEVICE

Volitional Strength Training

Subjects will complete 12 weeks of volitional isometric strength training of bilateral quadriceps and triceps surae muscles.

Intervention Type OTHER

Eligibility Criteria

Check the participation requirements, including inclusion and exclusion rules, age limits, and whether healthy volunteers are accepted.

Inclusion Criteria

* Children ages 7-12 years old
* Diagnosis of spastic diplegic cerebral palsy
* GMFCS level of II or III (able to walk indoors and outdoors with or without an assistive device)
* PROM requirements (\<10 degree hip flexion contracture, \>20 degrees of hip abduction, \< 5 degrees of knee flexion contracture, \> 45 degree popliteal angle, ankle dorsiflexion to neutral with knee extension)
* Sufficient cognitive/communication skills to perform volitional muscle contractions and complete data collection procedures

Exclusion Criteria

* Significant orthopedic impairments (hip MIGR \> 40%, significant scoliosis)
* Must be at least one year post orthopedic surgery
* Must be at least 6 months post botulinum toxin injections
* Uncontrolled seizure activity
Minimum Eligible Age

7 Years

Maximum Eligible Age

12 Years

Eligible Sex

ALL

Accepts Healthy Volunteers

No

Sponsors

Meet the organizations funding or collaborating on the study and learn about their roles.

Shriners Hospitals for Children

OTHER

Sponsor Role collaborator

University of Delaware

OTHER

Sponsor Role collaborator

Eunice Kennedy Shriver National Institute of Child Health and Human Development (NICHD)

NIH

Sponsor Role lead

Responsible Party

Identify the individual or organization who holds primary responsibility for the study information submitted to regulators.

University of DE/Shriners Hospitals for Children

Principal Investigators

Learn about the lead researchers overseeing the trial and their institutional affiliations.

Samuel CK Lee, PhD, PT

Role: PRINCIPAL_INVESTIGATOR

University of Delaware, Shriners Hospitals for Children

Locations

Explore where the study is taking place and check the recruitment status at each participating site.

Shriners Hospitals for Children, Philadelphia

Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, United States

Site Status

Countries

Review the countries where the study has at least one active or historical site.

United States

References

Explore related publications, articles, or registry entries linked to this study.

Stackhouse SK, Binder-Macleod SA, Lee SC. Voluntary muscle activation, contractile properties, and fatigability in children with and without cerebral palsy. Muscle Nerve. 2005 May;31(5):594-601. doi: 10.1002/mus.20302.

Reference Type RESULT
PMID: 15779003 (View on PubMed)

Other Identifiers

Review additional registry numbers or institutional identifiers associated with this trial.

R01HD043859

Identifier Type: NIH

Identifier Source: org_study_id

View Link

More Related Trials

Additional clinical trials that may be relevant based on similarity analysis.