Effect of Cawthorne Cooksey Exercises on Balance in Autistic Children With Vestibular Hypofunction.

NCT ID: NCT07061119

Last Updated: 2025-07-11

Basic Information

• Recruitment Status: RECRUITING
• Clinical Phase: NA
• Total Enrollment: 44 participants
• Study Classification: INTERVENTIONAL
• Study Start Date: 2025-01-31
• Study Completion Date: 2025-07-31

Brief Summary

The objective of the study is to determine the effects of cawthorne cooksey exercises on balance in autistic children with vestibular hypofunction. The study will be randomized control trial including 2 experimental groups with estimated 22 participants in each group.

Detailed Description

The complex neurodevelopmental disorder known as autism spectrum disorder (ASD) affects people in a variety of ways, affecting their ability for social interaction, communication, and repetitive behavior. Typically, ASD is recognized and diagnosed in the early childhood years, although its impact can extend throughout a person's life. Autism Spectrum Disorder (ASD) is a type of condition that affects how a child's brain develops. It appears that they have a somewhat different brain than others, which may have an impact on their behavior, social interactions, and communication. It can involve repetitive actions and a strong focus on specific interests. Symptoms of autism differ from person to person depending on age and ability that's why it is called spectrum disorder. Children with autism spectrum disorder appear to exhibit altered postural control when facing challenging situations. Postural control predominantly relies on the automatic system, necessitates focused attention during various straightforward or intricate tasks, and facilitates the regulation of postural control.

Vestibular functioning refers to operation and effectiveness of vestibular system, which is normally concerned with spatial orientation, movement, and balance. The system is located in the inner ear and comprises of semicircular canals (fluid-filled canals) and sensory receptors. Vestibular dysfunction is another common manifestation is autistic patients. It refers to impaired ability to sense and process sensory information associated with balance, movement, and spatial orientation. The manifestations of vestibular dysfunction include apprehensive behaviors when feet do not touch the ground, avoidance of jumping/climbing, and escaping activities like playing with playground equipment. The children usually exhibit toe walking and take more risks while playing. Interventions to improve balance due to vestibular dysfunction include trampoline Jumping, Gym ball exercises, balance board exercises. Balance issues play a huge role in life of an individual with autism. There is indeed a huge gap and lack of literature on how or if exercise protocols from physical therapy can influence balance in individuals with autism. Although, Previous studies have recommended that Balance issues and autism are directly related and that vestibular dysfunction plays a huge role in maintenance of posture. The aim of the study is to investigate the effects of Cawthorne Cooksey exercises on balance. This study will also influence how a physical therapist can improve quality of life of an individual with autism by improving their balance

Conditions

Autism Spectrum Disorder; Vestibular Hypofunction

Study Design

• Allocation Method: RANDOMIZED
• Intervention Model: PARALLEL
• Primary Study Purpose: TREATMENT
• Blinding Strategy: SINGLE

Study Groups

Conventional treatment

Conventional treatment include: Trampoline jumping Gym ball exercise:5reps'Sensory diet: Joint compressions Deeppressure Balance board exercises

Group Type: ACTIVE_COMPARATOR

Conventional treatment

Intervention Type: OTHER

Trampolinejumping:5times. Gym ball exercise:5reps'Sensory diet:- Joint compressions: 1 set x 10reps on limbs, neck, and head region.

Deeppressure:1 setx10reps. Balance board exercises.

Participant Group

Cawthorne cooksey exercises

Group Type: EXPERIMENTAL

cawthorne cooksey exercises

Intervention Type: OTHER

Cawthorne Cooksey exercises

• Start with low to moderate intensity.
• Gradually increase range, speed, and Complexity over time
• Trampoline jumping- Gym ball exercise- Sensory diet
• Cawthorne Cooksey exer cise Training

Phase1-In bed exerercises:- Eye movements:

1)Up and down 2)Side to side 3)Moving finger away from face

• Phase2-Sitting: Eye movements as above. Head movements at firsts low, then quick later with eyes closed
• bending forward and backward
• turning from side to side.

--Shoulder shrugging and circling

• Bending forward and picking up objects from the ground
• Phase 3 - Standing:
• Eye, Head, Shoulder movements
• Throwing ball from hand to hand, hand under knee
• Switch to sitting to standing and turning around in between.
• Phase 4 - Walk: with eyes closed and open:
• Across room
• Slope and Stairs

Interventions

Conventional treatment

Trampolinejumping:5times. Gym ball exercise:5reps'Sensory diet:- Joint compressions: 1 set x 10reps on limbs, neck, and head region.

Deeppressure:1 setx10reps. Balance board exercises.

Intervention Type: OTHER

cawthorne cooksey exercises

Cawthorne Cooksey exercises

• Start with low to moderate intensity.
• Gradually increase range, speed, and Complexity over time
• Trampoline jumping- Gym ball exercise- Sensory diet
• Cawthorne Cooksey exer cise Training

Phase1-In bed exerercises:- Eye movements:

1)Up and down 2)Side to side 3)Moving finger away from face

• Phase2-Sitting: Eye movements as above. Head movements at firsts low, then quick later with eyes closed
• bending forward and backward
• turning from side to side.

--Shoulder shrugging and circling

• Bending forward and picking up objects from the ground
• Phase 3 - Standing:
• Eye, Head, Shoulder movements
• Throwing ball from hand to hand, hand under knee
• Switch to sitting to standing and turning around in between.
• Phase 4 - Walk: with eyes closed and open:
• Across room
• Slope and Stairs

Intervention Type: OTHER

Eligibility Criteria

Inclusion Criteria

• Both genders
• Peripheral Vestibular hypofunction.
• Age:7-15years
• Children with mild to moderate autism.
• Children who understand and communicate

Exclusion Criteria

• Central Vestibular.
• Acute Infection of inner ear
• Auditory issues.
• Patients unable to follow exercise plan

• Minimum Eligible Age: 7 Years
• Maximum Eligible Age: 15 Years
• Eligible Sex: ALL
• Accepts Healthy Volunteers: No

Sponsors

Riphah International University

OTHER

Sponsor Role: lead

Responsible Party

Responsibility Role: SPONSOR

Principal Investigators

Nadia Azhar, MS

Role: PRINCIPAL_INVESTIGATOR

Riphah International University

Locations

Islamabad, Pakistan

Islamabad, Fedral, Pakistan

Site Status: RECRUITING

Countries

Pakistan

Central Contacts

Nadia Azhar, MS-NMPT

Role: CONTACT

Nadia.azhar@riphah.edu.pk

00923335281431

References

Lord C, Brugha TS, Charman T, Cusack J, Dumas G, Frazier T, Jones EJH, Jones RM, Pickles A, State MW, Taylor JL, Veenstra-VanderWeele J. Autism spectrum disorder. Nat Rev Dis Primers. 2020 Jan 16;6(1):5. doi: 10.1038/s41572-019-0138-4.

Reference Type: BACKGROUND

PMID: 31949163 (View on PubMed)

Mughal S, Faizy RM, Saadabadi A. Autism spectrum disorder. 2018

Reference Type: BACKGROUND

Other Identifiers

Bushra Zahid

Identifier Type: -

Identifier Source: org_study_id