Compare The Effectiveness of SCT and PNF In Children With Cerebral Palsy

NCT ID: NCT06851117

Last Updated: 2025-02-28

Basic Information

• Recruitment Status: COMPLETED
• Clinical Phase: NA
• Total Enrollment: 90 participants
• Study Classification: INTERVENTIONAL
• Study Start Date: 2023-10-28
• Study Completion Date: 2024-08-28

Brief Summary

This study will evaluate the comparative effectiveness of Spider Cage Therapy (SCT) and Proprioceptive Neuromuscular Facilitation (PNF) in managing motor impairments in children with cerebral palsy (CP). Cerebral palsy often leads to motor deficits that limit movement and impair functionality.

Detailed Description

SCT and PNF are therapeutic interventions that target these motor challenges but use distinct approaches. Spider Cage Therapy will involve the use of elastic cords within a supportive frame (the "spider cage") to stabilize the child, enhancing postural control and enabling dynamic movement training. This approach is expected to improve balance and alignment, promoting functional mobility. In contrast, PNF will focus on neuromuscular reeducation through specific movement patterns intended to enhance strength, coordination, and flexibility. By comparing SCT and PNF, this study aims to identify their respective impacts on motor function improvements, particularly in gross motor skills, balance, and postural stability, potentially guiding future rehabilitation protocols for children with CP.

Conditions

Cerebral Palsy

Study Design

• Allocation Method: RANDOMIZED
• Intervention Model: PARALLEL
• Primary Study Purpose: HEALTH_SERVICES_RESEARCH
• Blinding Strategy: NONE

Study Groups

Proprioceptive Neuromuscular Facilitation (PNF)

Group Type: EXPERIMENTAL

Proprioceptive Neuromuscular Facilitation (PNF)

Intervention Type: COMBINATION_PRODUCT

Participants in the PNF group will undergo intensive training of the affected limbs for 20 minutes per day, 5 days a week, over a 4-week period. During therapy sessions, the unaffected limb will be constrained using a mitt or cast to encourage focused activation and strengthening of the affected side. The therapy will include repetitive movement patterns designed to enhance strength, flexibility, and coordination.

Spider Cage Therapy Group

Group Type: EXPERIMENTAL

Spider Cage Therapy Group

Intervention Type: COMBINATION_PRODUCT

This group will participate in therapy sessions within the Spider Cage for 20 minutes per day, 5 days a week, for 4 weeks. Interventions will involve weight-bearing exercises, movement facilitation, and balance training, utilizing the cage's elastic cords to support and stabilize posture. The goal is to improve gross motor skills, balance, and controlled movement.

Combined PNF and Spider Cage Therapy Group

Group Type: ACTIVE_COMPARATOR

Combined PNF and Spider Cage Therapy Group

Intervention Type: DIAGNOSTIC_TEST

Participants in this group will receive both PNF and Spider Cage Therapy, with integrated principles and techniques from both approaches. The intensity and duration will be consistent with the individual therapy groups, with sessions held for 20 minutes per day, 5 days a week, over 4 weeks. This combination is expected to enhance functional outcomes by targeting both strength/coordination and balance/postural control.

Interventions

Proprioceptive Neuromuscular Facilitation (PNF)

Participants in the PNF group will undergo intensive training of the affected limbs for 20 minutes per day, 5 days a week, over a 4-week period. During therapy sessions, the unaffected limb will be constrained using a mitt or cast to encourage focused activation and strengthening of the affected side. The therapy will include repetitive movement patterns designed to enhance strength, flexibility, and coordination.

Intervention Type: COMBINATION_PRODUCT

Spider Cage Therapy Group

This group will participate in therapy sessions within the Spider Cage for 20 minutes per day, 5 days a week, for 4 weeks. Interventions will involve weight-bearing exercises, movement facilitation, and balance training, utilizing the cage's elastic cords to support and stabilize posture. The goal is to improve gross motor skills, balance, and controlled movement.

Intervention Type: COMBINATION_PRODUCT

Combined PNF and Spider Cage Therapy Group

Participants in this group will receive both PNF and Spider Cage Therapy, with integrated principles and techniques from both approaches. The intensity and duration will be consistent with the individual therapy groups, with sessions held for 20 minutes per day, 5 days a week, over 4 weeks. This combination is expected to enhance functional outcomes by targeting both strength/coordination and balance/postural control.

Intervention Type: DIAGNOSTIC_TEST

Eligibility Criteria

Inclusion Criteria

• Children aged 4-12 years.
• Clinical diagnosis of cerebral palsy.
• Classified within Gross Motor Function Classification System (GMFCS) levels I to III.
• Ability to follow instructions and participate in therapy sessions.

Exclusion Criteria

• Severe cognitive impairments hindering participation.
• Severe musculoskeletal deformities or recent surgeries.
• Other medical conditions contraindicating participation in physical therapy.

• Minimum Eligible Age: 3 Years
• Maximum Eligible Age: 12 Years
• Eligible Sex: ALL
• Accepts Healthy Volunteers: No

Sponsors

Superior University

OTHER

Sponsor Role: lead

Responsible Party

Muhammad Naveed Babur

Principal Investigator

Responsibility Role: PRINCIPAL_INVESTIGATOR

Locations

Azra Naheed Medical College, Superior University

Lahore, Punjab Province, Pakistan

Countries

Pakistan

Other Identifiers

MSRSW/Batch-Fall22/754

Identifier Type: -

Identifier Source: org_study_id