Trial Outcomes & Findings for Quantifying Energetic Demands of Walking for People With Cerebral Palsy (NCT NCT04303078)

NCT ID: NCT04303078

Last Updated: 2026-01-27

Results Overview

Steady-state net nondimensional oxygen consumption while walking on a treadmill. Percent change in oxygen consumption was evaluated between baseline without support and with vertical and lateral support.

Recruitment status

COMPLETED

Study phase

NA

Target enrollment

34 participants

Primary outcome timeframe

Baseline walking trial with harness on (5-minutes) and support walking trials with vertical or lateral support in harness system (5-minutes)

Results posted on

2026-01-27

Participant Flow

Participants were recruited through Gillette Children's via electronic medical record search, flyers, social media postings, and word of mouth at local clinics and community organizations. Recruitment started in the Summer of 2023, after a delay due to a facility flood, and was completed in the Summer of 2025.

Participant milestones

Participant milestones
Measure
Children With Cerebral Palsy (Cases)
Children meeting inclusion/exclusion criteria with a diagnosis of cerebral palsy.
Typically Developing Children (Controls)
Children meeting inclusion/exclusion criteria without a diagnosis of cerebral palsy or other condition.
Overall Study
STARTED
24
10
Overall Study
COMPLETED
23
10
Overall Study
NOT COMPLETED
1
0

Reasons for withdrawal

Reasons for withdrawal
Measure
Children With Cerebral Palsy (Cases)
Children meeting inclusion/exclusion criteria with a diagnosis of cerebral palsy.
Typically Developing Children (Controls)
Children meeting inclusion/exclusion criteria without a diagnosis of cerebral palsy or other condition.
Overall Study
Withdrawal by Subject
1
0

Baseline Characteristics

Quantifying Energetic Demands of Walking for People With Cerebral Palsy

Baseline characteristics by cohort

Baseline characteristics by cohort
Measure
Children With Cerebral Palsy (Cases)
n=24 Participants
Children meeting inclusion/exclusion criteria with a diagnosis of cerebral palsy.
Typically Developing Children (Controls)
n=10 Participants
Children meeting inclusion/exclusion criteria without a diagnosis of cerebral palsy or other condition.
Total
n=34 Participants
Total of all reporting groups
Age, Continuous
12.8 years
STANDARD_DEVIATION 3.0 • n=25 Participants
12.8 years
STANDARD_DEVIATION 2.9 • n=25 Participants
12.8 years
STANDARD_DEVIATION 2.9 • n=50 Participants
Sex: Female, Male
Female
9 Participants
n=25 Participants
5 Participants
n=25 Participants
14 Participants
n=50 Participants
Sex: Female, Male
Male
15 Participants
n=25 Participants
5 Participants
n=25 Participants
20 Participants
n=50 Participants
Race (NIH/OMB)
American Indian or Alaska Native
0 Participants
n=25 Participants
0 Participants
n=25 Participants
0 Participants
n=50 Participants
Race (NIH/OMB)
Asian
1 Participants
n=25 Participants
0 Participants
n=25 Participants
1 Participants
n=50 Participants
Race (NIH/OMB)
Native Hawaiian or Other Pacific Islander
0 Participants
n=25 Participants
0 Participants
n=25 Participants
0 Participants
n=50 Participants
Race (NIH/OMB)
Black or African American
1 Participants
n=25 Participants
0 Participants
n=25 Participants
1 Participants
n=50 Participants
Race (NIH/OMB)
White
22 Participants
n=25 Participants
10 Participants
n=25 Participants
32 Participants
n=50 Participants
Race (NIH/OMB)
More than one race
0 Participants
n=25 Participants
0 Participants
n=25 Participants
0 Participants
n=50 Participants
Race (NIH/OMB)
Unknown or Not Reported
0 Participants
n=25 Participants
0 Participants
n=25 Participants
0 Participants
n=50 Participants
Ethnicity (NIH/OMB)
Hispanic or Latino
1 Participants
n=25 Participants
1 Participants
n=25 Participants
2 Participants
n=50 Participants
Ethnicity (NIH/OMB)
Not Hispanic or Latino
23 Participants
n=25 Participants
9 Participants
n=25 Participants
32 Participants
n=50 Participants
Ethnicity (NIH/OMB)
Unknown or Not Reported
0 Participants
n=25 Participants
0 Participants
n=25 Participants
0 Participants
n=50 Participants

PRIMARY outcome

Timeframe: Baseline walking trial with harness on (5-minutes) and support walking trials with vertical or lateral support in harness system (5-minutes)

Population: One participant with cerebral palsy consented, but did not participate in the protocol. Issues with the system precluded inclusion of 9 additional participants with cerebral palsy for the lateral support analysis.

Steady-state net nondimensional oxygen consumption while walking on a treadmill. Percent change in oxygen consumption was evaluated between baseline without support and with vertical and lateral support.

Outcome measures

Outcome measures
Measure
Typically Developing Children (Controls)
n=10 Participants
Children meeting inclusion/exclusion criteria without a diagnosis of cerebral palsy or other condition.
Children With Cerebral Palsy (Cases)
n=23 Participants
Children meeting inclusion/exclusion criteria with a diagnosis of cerebral palsy.
Net Nondimensional Oxygen Cost
Percent Change (Vertical Support)
-15.86 Percent change relative to baseline
Standard Deviation 17.76
-34.13 Percent change relative to baseline
Standard Deviation 21.45
Net Nondimensional Oxygen Cost
Percent Change (Lateral Support)
-0.60 Percent change relative to baseline
Standard Deviation 10.19
1.07 Percent change relative to baseline
Standard Deviation 7.07

SECONDARY outcome

Timeframe: Initial trial without support (5-minutes)

Population: One participant with cerebral palsy consented, but did not participate in the protocol. Issues with the system precluded inclusion of 9 additional participants with cerebral palsy for the lateral support analysis.

Five features describing kinematics during gait in the harness system without vertical or lateral support collected from marker-based motion capture. Since the harness system differed between vertical and lateral support, baseline kinematics are reported separately for each system in the rows below. The features include (1) median pelvic tilt during the stance phase, (2) peak hip extension, (3) peak knee extension, (4) peak ankle plantarflexion, and (5) the foot progression angle relative to fore-aft direction.

Outcome measures

Outcome measures
Measure
Typically Developing Children (Controls)
n=10 Participants
Children meeting inclusion/exclusion criteria without a diagnosis of cerebral palsy or other condition.
Children With Cerebral Palsy (Cases)
n=23 Participants
Children meeting inclusion/exclusion criteria with a diagnosis of cerebral palsy.
Three-dimensional Gait Kinematics (Baseline)
Median Stance Pelvic Tilt (Vertical Support - Baseline)
13.6 Degrees
Standard Deviation 6.6
21.6 Degrees
Standard Deviation 8.0
Three-dimensional Gait Kinematics (Baseline)
Median Stance Pelvic Tilt (Lateral Support - Baseline)
16.2 Degrees
Standard Deviation 7.6
23.4 Degrees
Standard Deviation 9.2
Three-dimensional Gait Kinematics (Baseline)
Peak Stance Hip Extension (Vertical Support - Baseline)
13.2 Degrees
Standard Deviation 7.4
24.3 Degrees
Standard Deviation 11.5
Three-dimensional Gait Kinematics (Baseline)
Peak Stance Hip Extension (Lateral Support - Baseline)
16.5 Degrees
Standard Deviation 9.5
27.1 Degrees
Standard Deviation 12.0
Three-dimensional Gait Kinematics (Baseline)
Peak Stance Knee Extension (Vertical Support - Baseline)
0.1 Degrees
Standard Deviation 3.8
14.1 Degrees
Standard Deviation 12.9
Three-dimensional Gait Kinematics (Baseline)
Peak Stance Knee Extension (Lateral Support - Baseline)
0.5 Degrees
Standard Deviation 6.8
13.3 Degrees
Standard Deviation 10.2
Three-dimensional Gait Kinematics (Baseline)
Peak Stance Ankle Plantarflexion (Vertical Support - Baseline)
-6.1 Degrees
Standard Deviation 2.4
-1.2 Degrees
Standard Deviation 8.7
Three-dimensional Gait Kinematics (Baseline)
Peak Stance Ankle Plantarflexion (Lateral Support - Baseline)
-5.3 Degrees
Standard Deviation 3.4
-0.8 Degrees
Standard Deviation 6.9
Three-dimensional Gait Kinematics (Baseline)
Median Stance Foot Progression (Vertical Support - Baseline)
-5.6 Degrees
Standard Deviation 10.2
-5.7 Degrees
Standard Deviation 10.1
Three-dimensional Gait Kinematics (Baseline)
Median Stance Foot Progression (Lateral Support - Baseline)
-5.4 Degrees
Standard Deviation 10.5
-6.2 Degrees
Standard Deviation 9.0

SECONDARY outcome

Timeframe: Trial with maximum support (5-minutes)

Population: One participant with cerebral palsy consented, but did not participate in the protocol. Issues with the system precluded inclusion of 9 additional participants with cerebral palsy for the lateral support analysis.

Five features describing kinematics during gait in the harness system with vertical and lateral support. The features include (1) median pelvic tilt during the stance phase, (2) peak hip extension, (3) peak knee extension, (4) peak ankle plantarflexion, and (5) the foot progression angle relative to fore-aft direction.

Outcome measures

Outcome measures
Measure
Typically Developing Children (Controls)
n=10 Participants
Children meeting inclusion/exclusion criteria without a diagnosis of cerebral palsy or other condition.
Children With Cerebral Palsy (Cases)
n=23 Participants
Children meeting inclusion/exclusion criteria with a diagnosis of cerebral palsy.
Three-dimensional Gait Kinematics (Support)
Peak Stance Hip Extension (Maximum Lateral Support)
16.1 Degrees
Standard Deviation 9.9
28.0 Degrees
Standard Deviation 10.1
Three-dimensional Gait Kinematics (Support)
Peak Stance Knee Extension (Maximum Vertical Support)
1.8 Degrees
Standard Deviation 7.8
13.0 Degrees
Standard Deviation 12.9
Three-dimensional Gait Kinematics (Support)
Peak Stance Knee Extension (Maximum Lateral Support)
0.4 Degrees
Standard Deviation 5.3
15.0 Degrees
Standard Deviation 8.8
Three-dimensional Gait Kinematics (Support)
Peak Stance Ankle Plantarflexion (Maximum Vertical Support)
-4.9 Degrees
Standard Deviation 5.2
-2.0 Degrees
Standard Deviation 9.4
Three-dimensional Gait Kinematics (Support)
Peak Stance Ankle Plantarflexion (Maximum Lateral Support)
-5.1 Degrees
Standard Deviation 2.1
-0.1 Degrees
Standard Deviation 6.9
Three-dimensional Gait Kinematics (Support)
Median Stance Foot Progression (Maximum Vertical Support)
-3.9 Degrees
Standard Deviation 8.9
-4.1 Degrees
Standard Deviation 10.9
Three-dimensional Gait Kinematics (Support)
Median Stance Foot Progression (Maximum Lateral Support)
-8.5 Degrees
Standard Deviation 8.2
-6.5 Degrees
Standard Deviation 9.7
Three-dimensional Gait Kinematics (Support)
Peak Stance Hip Extension (Maximum Vertical Support)
15.4 Degrees
Standard Deviation 8.3
21.5 Degrees
Standard Deviation 11.9
Three-dimensional Gait Kinematics (Support)
Median Stance Pelvic Tilt (Maximum Vertical Support)
18.0 Degrees
Standard Deviation 6.7
22.1 Degrees
Standard Deviation 9.5
Three-dimensional Gait Kinematics (Support)
Median Stance Pelvic Tilt (Maximum Lateral Support)
16.4 Degrees
Standard Deviation 8.3
23.0 Degrees
Standard Deviation 8.3

SECONDARY outcome

Timeframe: Initial trial without support (5-minutes)

Population: One participant with cerebral palsy consented, but did not participate in the protocol. Issues with the system precluded inclusion of 9 additional participants with cerebral palsy for the lateral support analysis. For kinetics, adequate force pate data was not acquired for one additional child with cerebral palsy during vertical support, as well as two children with cerebral palsy and three typically-developing children during lateral support.

Three features describing kinetics during gait in the harness system without vertical or lateral support collected from marker-based motion capture and instrumented treadmill for ground reaction forces. Since the harness system differed between vertical and lateral support, baseline kinematics are reported separately for each system in the rows below. The features include (1) peak hip extensor moment, (2) peak knee extensor moment, and (3) peak ankle plantarflexor moment.

Outcome measures

Outcome measures
Measure
Typically Developing Children (Controls)
n=10 Participants
Children meeting inclusion/exclusion criteria without a diagnosis of cerebral palsy or other condition.
Children With Cerebral Palsy (Cases)
n=23 Participants
Children meeting inclusion/exclusion criteria with a diagnosis of cerebral palsy.
Three-dimensional Gait Kinetics (Baseline)
Peak Hip Extensor Moment (Vertical Support - Baseline)
0.604 Nm/kg
Standard Deviation 0.153
0.462 Nm/kg
Standard Deviation 0.156
Three-dimensional Gait Kinetics (Baseline)
Peak Hip Extensor Moment (Lateral Support - Baseline)
0.613 Nm/kg
Standard Deviation 0.255
0.447 Nm/kg
Standard Deviation 0.122
Three-dimensional Gait Kinetics (Baseline)
Peak Knee Extensor Moment (Vertical Support - Baseline)
0.321 Nm/kg
Standard Deviation 0.095
0.160 Nm/kg
Standard Deviation 0.132
Three-dimensional Gait Kinetics (Baseline)
Peak Knee Extensor Moment (Lateral Support - Baseline)
0.306 Nm/kg
Standard Deviation 0.158
0.119 Nm/kg
Standard Deviation 0.097
Three-dimensional Gait Kinetics (Baseline)
Peak Ankle Plantarflexor Moment (Vertical Support - Baseline)
0.068 Nm/kg
Standard Deviation 0.035
0.026 Nm/kg
Standard Deviation 0.032
Three-dimensional Gait Kinetics (Baseline)
Peak Ankle Plantarflexor Moment (Lateral Support - Baseline)
0.074 Nm/kg
Standard Deviation 0.038
0.033 Nm/kg
Standard Deviation 0.028

SECONDARY outcome

Timeframe: Trial with maximum support (5-minutes)

Population: One participant with cerebral palsy consented, but did not participate in the protocol. Issues with the system precluded inclusion of 9 additional participants with cerebral palsy for the lateral support analysis. For kinetics, adequate force pate data was not acquired for two children with cerebral palsy during vertical support, as well as one typically-developing child during lateral support.

Three features describing kinetics during gait in the harness system with vertical and lateral support. . Since the harness system differed between vertical and lateral support, baseline kinematics are reported separately for each system in the rows below. The features include (1) peak hip extensor moment, (2) peak knee extensor moment, and (3) peak ankle plantarflexor moment.

Outcome measures

Outcome measures
Measure
Typically Developing Children (Controls)
n=10 Participants
Children meeting inclusion/exclusion criteria without a diagnosis of cerebral palsy or other condition.
Children With Cerebral Palsy (Cases)
n=23 Participants
Children meeting inclusion/exclusion criteria with a diagnosis of cerebral palsy.
Three-dimensional Gait Kinetics (Support)
Peak Hip Extensor Moment (Maximum Vertical Support)
0.312 Nm/kg
Standard Deviation 0.104
0.269 Nm/kg
Standard Deviation 0.046
Three-dimensional Gait Kinetics (Support)
Peak Hip Extensor Moment (Maximum Lateral Support)
0.559 Nm/kg
Standard Deviation 0.152
0.465 Nm/kg
Standard Deviation 0.119
Three-dimensional Gait Kinetics (Support)
Peak Knee Extensor Moment (Maximum Vertical Support)
0.177 Nm/kg
Standard Deviation 0.053
0.103 Nm/kg
Standard Deviation 0.052
Three-dimensional Gait Kinetics (Support)
Peak Knee Extensor Moment (Maximum Lateral Support)
0.302 Nm/kg
Standard Deviation 0.092
0.122 Nm/kg
Standard Deviation 0.133
Three-dimensional Gait Kinetics (Support)
Peak Ankle Plantarflexor Moment (Maximum Vertical Support)
0.035 Nm/kg
Standard Deviation 0.027
0.012 Nm/kg
Standard Deviation 0.016
Three-dimensional Gait Kinetics (Support)
Peak Ankle Plantarflexor Moment (Maximum Lateral Support)
0.056 Nm/kg
Standard Deviation 0.031
0.026 Nm/kg
Standard Deviation 0.031

SECONDARY outcome

Timeframe: One-time research visit (15 minutes)

Population: One participant with cerebral palsy consented, but did not participate in the protocol.

Compare passive joint range of motion (degrees) measured by lower extremity physical exam

Outcome measures

Outcome measures
Measure
Typically Developing Children (Controls)
n=10 Participants
Children meeting inclusion/exclusion criteria without a diagnosis of cerebral palsy or other condition.
Children With Cerebral Palsy (Cases)
n=23 Participants
Children meeting inclusion/exclusion criteria with a diagnosis of cerebral palsy.
Passive Joint Range of Motion
Knee Extensor Lag
0.000 Degrees
Standard Deviation 0.000
3.174 Degrees
Standard Deviation 6.336
Passive Joint Range of Motion
Maximum Ankle Dorsiflexion
13.200 Degrees
Standard Deviation 4.341
4.043 Degrees
Standard Deviation 6.725
Passive Joint Range of Motion
Maximum Knee Extension
-4.700 Degrees
Standard Deviation 4.523
-0.435 Degrees
Standard Deviation 6.940
Passive Joint Range of Motion
Popliteal Angle
34.000 Degrees
Standard Deviation 9.416
51.478 Degrees
Standard Deviation 11.747

SECONDARY outcome

Timeframe: One-time research visit (15 minutes)

Population: One participant with cerebral palsy consented, but did not participate in the protocol.

Selective motor control (0 patterned movement - 2 complete isolated movement)

Outcome measures

Outcome measures
Measure
Typically Developing Children (Controls)
n=10 Participants
Children meeting inclusion/exclusion criteria without a diagnosis of cerebral palsy or other condition.
Children With Cerebral Palsy (Cases)
n=23 Participants
Children meeting inclusion/exclusion criteria with a diagnosis of cerebral palsy.
Selective Motor Control
Hip Flexion
2.000 Units on a Scale
Standard Deviation 0.000
1.348 Units on a Scale
Standard Deviation 0.487
Selective Motor Control
Hip Extension
2.000 Units on a Scale
Standard Deviation 0.000
1.826 Units on a Scale
Standard Deviation 0.388
Selective Motor Control
Knee Extension
2.000 Units on a Scale
Standard Deviation 0.000
1.870 Units on a Scale
Standard Deviation 0.458
Selective Motor Control
Ankle Plantarflexion
2.000 Units on a Scale
Standard Deviation 0.000
1.565 Units on a Scale
Standard Deviation 0.662

SECONDARY outcome

Timeframe: One-time research visit (15 minutes)

Population: One participant with cerebral palsy consented, but did not participate in the protocol.

Lower extremity strength measures by the manual muscle test (0 no muscle contraction - 5 typical muscle function)

Outcome measures

Outcome measures
Measure
Typically Developing Children (Controls)
n=10 Participants
Children meeting inclusion/exclusion criteria without a diagnosis of cerebral palsy or other condition.
Children With Cerebral Palsy (Cases)
n=23 Participants
Children meeting inclusion/exclusion criteria with a diagnosis of cerebral palsy.
Lower Extremity Strength
Back Extensor Strength
5.000 Units on a Scale
Standard Deviation 0.000
4.391 Units on a Scale
Standard Deviation 1.076
Lower Extremity Strength
Hip Extensor Strength
5.000 Units on a Scale
Standard Deviation 0.000
3.652 Units on a Scale
Standard Deviation 1.071
Lower Extremity Strength
Knee Extensor Strength
5.000 Units on a Scale
Standard Deviation 0.000
4.913 Units on a Scale
Standard Deviation 0.417
Lower Extremity Strength
Plantarflexor Strength
5.000 Units on a Scale
Standard Deviation 0.000
3.130 Units on a Scale
Standard Deviation 1.325

Adverse Events

Children With Cerebral Palsy (Cases)

Serious events: 0 serious events
Other events: 0 other events
Deaths: 0 deaths

Typically Developing Children (Controls)

Serious events: 0 serious events
Other events: 0 other events
Deaths: 0 deaths

Serious adverse events

Adverse event data not reported

Other adverse events

Adverse event data not reported

Additional Information

Katherine Steele

University of Washington

Phone: 206-685-2390

Results disclosure agreements

  • Principal investigator is a sponsor employee
  • Publication restrictions are in place