Craniosacral Test and Primitive Reflexes in Infant Neurodevelopment

NCT ID: NCT05190029

Last Updated: 2022-02-08

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

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Recruitment Status

COMPLETED

Clinical Phase

NA

Total Enrollment

120 participants

Study Classification

INTERVENTIONAL

Study Start Date

2021-12-01

Study Completion Date

2022-02-05

Brief Summary

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Question(s): Can active primitive reflexes (APR) and cranial blocks (CB) in healthy children interfere with neurological balance causing psycho-behavioral and cognitive dysfunctions? Design: Cross-sectional and descriptive study analyzing perinatal, neurobehavioral and physiotherapeutic parameters. Participants: School population of both genders (n=120) divided in two groups: 3-6 years old (n=60) and 6-8 years old (n=60). Intervention: Systematic evaluation of the children based on a parent survey, assessment by teachers and physiotherapeutic exploration. Outcome measures: Perinatal (surveyed parents) and neurobehavioral problems (assessed by teachers) were related to the presence of RPA and BC (analyzed by physiotherapeutic exploration).

Key words: primitive reflexes, craniosacral disfunctions, neurodevelopment, childhood, early diagnosis, screening.

Detailed Description

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Primitive reflexes (PR) are indispensable for the survival of the individual in the early stages of life. PR are necessary for a coordinated response to sensory stimuli during the period of cortical immaturity until the maturation of the central nervous system (CNS). However, PR must be gradually abolished as the subject's development proceeds, allowing for voluntary and functional movement responses. This process of PR abolition is due to the synaptic plasticity of the CNS. Persistent ROP can be identified by means of a systematic neurological examination. On the other hand, through craniosacral exploration, blockages in the craniosacral system can be evidenced; under physiological conditions, this system seeks to balance the mobility of membranes and cranial sutures, based on the coordinated movement of the cranial bones and the sacrum. If neurological homeostasis is disturbed in the child after diagnosing possible BC, this could manifest in the persistence of RPA and/or vice versa.

Observation of the child's different behavioral patterns in social and emotional areas, as well as his or her physical and psychological capacities, could help to detect early possible alterations in the onset of neurodevelopment. Such detection is essential for the health professional to be able to establish an appropriate treatment.

The aim of this study is to detect early infant neurodevelopmental dysfunctions and their possible relationship with RPA and/or BC in apparently healthy children.

Therefore, the research questions of this study were:

1. Are RPA and/or BC related to child neurodevelopmental disturbances?
2. In relation to the previous question, by means of the systematic evaluation of RPA and BC could children with neurodevelopmental disorders be identified in order to treat them early?

Design A cross-sectional, observational and descriptive study was conducted in a school population.

Participants, therapists, centers A total of 120 children between 3 and 8 years of age from a school in Córdoba (Spain) were evaluated. Subjects of both sexes were included and were divided into two groups according to age ranges: 3 to 6 years and 6 to 8 years. The neurodevelopmental assessment was made taking into account the growth stages standardized by the WHO.

Prior approval was obtained from the Research Ethics Committee of Córdoba for the present study. The harmonized tripartite standards of the Helsinki declaration, the Biomedical Research Law (Law 14/2007), and the Organic Law on Personal Data Protection (Organic Law 3/2018) were respected at all times. The application of tests and data collection for the research was performed within the facilities of the educational institution, with the collaboration of the teachers and having the due authorization of the academic director and the parents or legal representatives of the students.

Conditions

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Child Development Disorder

Study Design

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Allocation Method

NA

Intervention Model

SINGLE_GROUP

120 children aged 3 to 8 years from a school in Córdoba (Spain). Subjects of both sexes were included and were divided into two groups according to age ranges: 3 to 6 years and 6 to 8 years.
Primary Study Purpose

DIAGNOSTIC

Blinding Strategy

NONE

Study Groups

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Complete sample

Group of 120 children evaluated by craniosacral therapy for cranial blocks and primitive reflexes.

Group Type EXPERIMENTAL

Series of questions to parents of children in a virtual form.

Intervention Type DIAGNOSTIC_TEST

A questionnaire of 5 questions was provided in an online format addressed to the parents or legal representatives of each child. These questions were related to the child's own aspects (behavioral, psychomotor and cognitive parameters), as well as parameters oriented to the mother (pregnancy and childbirth).

Intervention by teachers

Intervention Type OTHER

The school teachers examined neurobehavioral aspects of the students using the "Battelle Developmental Inventory" (BDI), which assesses five areas of development (personal/social, adaptive, motor, communicative and cognitive) between 2 and 8 years of age. The results are assigned in age-adjusted percentages, classified as: low (0-50%), normal (50-80%) and high (80-100%). Low and high values are considered impairments in one or more of the evaluated areas.

Physiotherapeutic evaluation

Intervention Type PROCEDURE

A physiotherapeutic evaluation of the state of the RP and craniosacral system was performed according to the method of Andrzej Pilat and John E. Upledger.

The 14 primitive reflexes explored were: Moro reflex, cervical asymmetric, supine labyrinthine tonic, prone labyrinthine tonic, palmar grasp, plantar grasp, lateral trunk propulsion, parachute, Galant, search, cervical symmetric, Babinski, cochleo-palpebral and acoustic. These reflexes were considered as: inactive (0), or active (1).

In the evaluation of the craniosacral system, the following parameters were explored: dura mater sway, frontal bone, parietal bones, temporal bones, temporomandibular joint and sphenoid bone. These parameters were considered as: normal (0), or blockage (1).

Interventions

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Series of questions to parents of children in a virtual form.

A questionnaire of 5 questions was provided in an online format addressed to the parents or legal representatives of each child. These questions were related to the child's own aspects (behavioral, psychomotor and cognitive parameters), as well as parameters oriented to the mother (pregnancy and childbirth).

Intervention Type DIAGNOSTIC_TEST

Intervention by teachers

The school teachers examined neurobehavioral aspects of the students using the "Battelle Developmental Inventory" (BDI), which assesses five areas of development (personal/social, adaptive, motor, communicative and cognitive) between 2 and 8 years of age. The results are assigned in age-adjusted percentages, classified as: low (0-50%), normal (50-80%) and high (80-100%). Low and high values are considered impairments in one or more of the evaluated areas.

Intervention Type OTHER

Physiotherapeutic evaluation

A physiotherapeutic evaluation of the state of the RP and craniosacral system was performed according to the method of Andrzej Pilat and John E. Upledger.

The 14 primitive reflexes explored were: Moro reflex, cervical asymmetric, supine labyrinthine tonic, prone labyrinthine tonic, palmar grasp, plantar grasp, lateral trunk propulsion, parachute, Galant, search, cervical symmetric, Babinski, cochleo-palpebral and acoustic. These reflexes were considered as: inactive (0), or active (1).

In the evaluation of the craniosacral system, the following parameters were explored: dura mater sway, frontal bone, parietal bones, temporal bones, temporomandibular joint and sphenoid bone. These parameters were considered as: normal (0), or blockage (1).

Intervention Type PROCEDURE

Eligibility Criteria

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Inclusion Criteria

* Apparently healthy children
* School group
* Within age range

Exclusion Criteria

* Children with possible pathologies
* Older than the established age
Minimum Eligible Age

3 Years

Maximum Eligible Age

8 Years

Eligible Sex

ALL

Accepts Healthy Volunteers

Yes

Sponsors

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Clinica Gema Leon

OTHER

Sponsor Role lead

Responsible Party

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GEMA LEÓN BRAVO

Principal Investigator

Responsibility Role PRINCIPAL_INVESTIGATOR

Principal Investigators

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Irene Cantarero, Study Chair

Role: STUDY_CHAIR

Universidad de Córdoba

Javier Caballero Villarraso, Study Direct

Role: STUDY_DIRECTOR

Universidad de Córdoba

Locations

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Clinica de Fisioterapia Gema León

Córdoba, Andalusia, Spain

Site Status

Countries

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Spain

References

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Pecuch A, Gieysztor E, Wolanska E, Telenga M, Paprocka-Borowicz M. Primitive Reflex Activity in Relation to Motor Skills in Healthy Preschool Children. Brain Sci. 2021 Jul 23;11(8):967. doi: 10.3390/brainsci11080967.

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Other Identifiers

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ART-GLB-PRIMITIVE REFLEXES

Identifier Type: -

Identifier Source: org_study_id

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