Investıgatıon Of The Effectıveness Of The Mollıı Suıt In Chıldren Wıth Ambulatory Cerebral Palsy

NCT ID: NCT06109129

Last Updated: 2025-07-11

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

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Recruitment Status

RECRUITING

Clinical Phase

NA

Total Enrollment

32 participants

Study Classification

INTERVENTIONAL

Study Start Date

2023-11-05

Study Completion Date

2025-11-05

Brief Summary

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Cerebral Palsy (CP) is the most common developmental disorder in childhood. Individuals' independence in daily living activities and participation in education, games, social and community activities are restricted. Technology applications in the field of rehabilitation are gaining momentum. EXOPULSE Mollii Suit method, one of the newest rehabilitation technology products, is a non-invasive neuromodulation approach with a garment that covers the whole body and electrodes placed inside. Designed to improve motor function by reducing spasticity and pain, the method is based on the principle of reciprocal inhibition, which occurs by stimulating the antagonist of a spastic muscle at low frequencies and intensities. Therefore, the aim of our study is to examine the effectiveness of the Mollii Suit application on gross and fine motor function, spasticity severity, balance, walking, selective motor control, postural control, daily living activities, quality of life, pain and sleep quality in individuals with ambulatory spastic CP.

Detailed Description

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Cerebral Palsy (CP) is the most common developmental disorder in childhood and is an umbrella term covering a heterogeneous group of permanent but unchanging movement and posture disorders caused by damage to the developing brain. In a study conducted in Turkey in 2006, the incidence was found to be 4.4 per 1000 live births. While difficulties in selective movement negatively affect motor functions, individuals may also experience difficulties in areas such as communication, behavior, vision, hearing, nutrition, pain and sleep. Individuals' independence in daily living activities and participation in education, games, social and community activities are restricted.

In recent years, the number of systematic reviews and meta-analyses focusing on CP treatments has increased rapidly. These studies are instrumental in providing clinicians and families with newer, safer, and more effective interventions. In a systematic review, it was stated that goal-oriented approaches in the development of gross and fine motor skills prioritize motivation and attention, which are important for neuroplasticity, and that this is necessary for the patient to continue treatment. Rehabilitation technologies such as electrotherapy, virtual reality games, and body weight supported treadmill training, which can be combined with targeted motor training, have been shown to be effective on the patient's gross and fine motor functions.

Technology applications in the field of rehabilitation are gaining momentum. The main reasons for this growth include engineering research, commercial development of rehabilitation products and rapidly growing technological developments. These developments are used in CP rehabilitation to improve motor skills, assist with daily living activities, optimize communication and support academic education.

EXOPULSE Mollii Suit method, one of the newest rehabilitation technology products, is a non-invasive neuromodulation approach with a garment that covers the whole body and electrodes placed inside. Designed to improve motor function by reducing spasticity and pain, the method is based on the principle of reciprocal inhibition, which occurs by stimulating the antagonist of a spastic muscle at low frequencies and intensities. No discomfort or side effects were reported in studies conducted in the pediatric population. In one study, they stated that children felt like superheroes in clothes and that it made them feel good. Families stated that this new approach could be an alternative to current treatments and that it was promising.

In the literature, it has only been applied for the treatment of pain and spasticity in patients with CP, stroke, ataxia and fibromyalgia. Different methodological methods were used in these studies and it was stated that there were inconsistencies between the results. According to a pilot study conducted by Hedin et al., 16 patients with CP at different levels were treated for 60 minutes every other day for 6 weeks, and it was observed that there was a significant decrease in joint range of motion and spasticity severity.

The effectiveness of Mollii Suit on different parameters, especially walking, in individuals with ambulatory CP is unclear and it is stated that better designed studies are needed. Therefore, the aim of our study is to examine the effectiveness of the Mollii Suit application on gross and fine motor function, spasticity severity, balance, walking, selective motor control, postural control, daily living activities, quality of life, pain and sleep quality in individuals with ambulatory spastic CP.

Conditions

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Cerebral Palsy Spasticity, Muscle

Study Design

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Allocation Method

RANDOMIZED

Intervention Model

PARALLEL

A Double-Blınd Randomızed Controlled Study
Primary Study Purpose

TREATMENT

Blinding Strategy

DOUBLE

Investigators Outcome Assessors
All assessments will be performed by an experienced pediatric physiotherapist blinded to the study hypothesis and design.

Statistical analysis of the study will be performed by a biostatistician blinded to the study hypotheses.

Study Groups

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Intervention Group

First group will participate in the Mollii Suit application for 60 minutes 3 days a week. Mollii Suit consists of a pair of trousers and a jacket. It is a neuromodulation garment consisting of a non-invasive removable control unit that sends electrical signals to the user through electrodes inside. The child will wear the Molli Suit when he/she comes to each session, and the child will be asked to sit or lie down throughout the application in order to avoid any interference with the effectiveness of the suit.

Group Type EXPERIMENTAL

EXOPULSE Mollii Suit

Intervention Type DEVICE

EXOPULSE Mollii Suit is a personal assistive medical device which is used for low energy whole body transcutaneous electrical stimulation - 20 Volt and 20 Hz. It is composed of a control unit, a jacket and pants with 58 embedded electrodes in direct contact with the skin. EXOPULSE Mollii Suit is used for activation of muscles or relaxation of spastic muscles mediated by a physiological reflex mechanism referred to as reciprocal inhibition. By sending an electrical signal to an antagonistic muscle, the spastic muscle may subsequently relax.

Control Group

The control group will continue the routine pediatric physiotherapy program 3 days a week. This program, which includes exercises appropriate to the child's motor function level, includes stair climbing, walking exercises, balance, strengthening and flexibility exercises.

Group Type NO_INTERVENTION

No interventions assigned to this group

Interventions

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EXOPULSE Mollii Suit

EXOPULSE Mollii Suit is a personal assistive medical device which is used for low energy whole body transcutaneous electrical stimulation - 20 Volt and 20 Hz. It is composed of a control unit, a jacket and pants with 58 embedded electrodes in direct contact with the skin. EXOPULSE Mollii Suit is used for activation of muscles or relaxation of spastic muscles mediated by a physiological reflex mechanism referred to as reciprocal inhibition. By sending an electrical signal to an antagonistic muscle, the spastic muscle may subsequently relax.

Intervention Type DEVICE

Eligibility Criteria

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Inclusion Criteria

* Being a voluntary participant in the study,
* Having a diagnosis of spastic CP,
* Being between 1-3 on the Gross Motor Classification System (GMFCS),
* Being between the ages of 4 and 18,
* Being able to express pain and discomfort

Exclusion Criteria

* Being between 4-5 on Gross Motor Classification System (GMFCS)
* Having Botolunim Toxin A application before 3 months
* Having a surgical intervention before 6 months
* Having a shunt or an invasive medical pump (baclofen, insulin, etc.)
Minimum Eligible Age

4 Years

Maximum Eligible Age

18 Years

Eligible Sex

ALL

Accepts Healthy Volunteers

No

Sponsors

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Gazi University

OTHER

Sponsor Role collaborator

Kastamonu University

OTHER

Sponsor Role lead

Responsible Party

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Hidayet Cuha

Lecturer (PHd student)

Responsibility Role PRINCIPAL_INVESTIGATOR

Locations

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Gazi University

Ankara, , Turkey (Türkiye)

Site Status RECRUITING

Countries

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Turkey (Türkiye)

Central Contacts

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Hidayet Cuha, PHD Candidate

Role: CONTACT

+90 534 646 01 06

Merve Ozturk, PHD Student

Role: CONTACT

+90 543 426 40 93

Facility Contacts

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Hidayet Cuha, PHD Canditate

Role: primary

+90 534 646 01 06

Merve Ozturk, PHD Student

Role: backup

+90 543 426 40 93

References

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Other Identifiers

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2023 - 1137

Identifier Type: -

Identifier Source: org_study_id

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