The Effect of TOAP in Children With CP

NCT ID: NCT07347184

Last Updated: 2026-01-16

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

12 participants

Study Classification

INTERVENTIONAL

Study Start Date

2022-06-06

Study Completion Date

2023-05-23

Brief Summary

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This study investigates the effects of a task-oriented aquatherapy program (TOAP) on occupational performance, participation, and motivation in children with cerebral palsy. The program was designed based on each child's individually prioritized occupations identified through the Canadian Occupational Performance Measure (COPM).

Twelve children participated in a crossover design. Each child received both the TOAP intervention and conventional rehabilitation exercises in two separate 16-week periods. Interventions were delivered twice per week for 40 minutes per session. Outcomes included occupational performance (COPM), participation (PODCI), and motivation (PMOT). The study aims to provide evidence on whether personalized, meaningful, task-oriented aquatic exercises can improve functional performance and participation in children with cerebral palsy, and to offer structured TOAP protocols for clinicians.

Detailed Description

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This study employed an interventional crossover desing to evaluate the effects of a task-oriented aquatherapy program (TOAP) on occupational performance, participate and motivation in children with cerebral palsy. The intervention was grounded in occupational therapy principles and structured according to the Person-Environment-Occupation (PEO) model with an emphasis on meaningful, child-selected occupations performed in an aquatic environment.

Individualized intervention goals were determined prior to the intervention using occupations prioritized by each participant through the Canadian Occupational Performance Measure (COPM). Based on these prioritized occupations, a structured TOAP was developed for each child. The program incorporated task-oriented aquatic activities designed to support functional movement, postural control, balance and engagement while emphasizing active participation and motivation during therapy sessions.

The study consisted of two consecutive 16-week intervention periods. During the first period, one group received the TOAP intervention while the comparison group received conventional rehabilitation exercises commonly used in pediatric neurorehabilitation. Following completion of the first period, the groups crossed over and received the alternate intervention in the second period. This crossover, structure allowed each participant to serve as their own control, thereby reducing inter-individual variability.

All intervention sessions were conducted twice weekly, with each sessions lasting 40 minutes. Interventions were delivered by trained clinicians in an aquatic therapy setting. Outcome assessments were conducted at baseline and at the end of the each intervention period to evaluate changes associated with each treatment condition.

The study protocol was desinged to examine whether a personalized, task-oriented aquatic intervention grounded in meaningful occupations could enhance occupational performance, participation and motivation in children with cerebral palsy and to inform the development of structured aquatic intervention approaches applicable to clinical practice.

Conditions

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Cerebral Palsy (CP)

Study Design

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Allocation Method

RANDOMIZED

Intervention Model

CROSSOVER

Two groups receive different interventions for 16 weeks, then switch interventions for another 16 weeks; each child serves as their own control.
Primary Study Purpose

TREATMENT

Blinding Strategy

NONE

Outcome evaluators (COPM, PODCI, PMOT) were blinded to group assignments to reduce assessment bias.

Study Groups

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Study Group

Receives tailored occupation-based task-oriented aquatherapy program

Group Type EXPERIMENTAL

Task-Oriented Aquatherapy Program

Intervention Type BEHAVIORAL

A 16-week program where each child engages in activities tailored to their five most important occupations, identified via COPM. Sessions are 40 minutes, twice weekly, focused on improving occupational performance, participation, and motivation. The program is structured, individualized, and designed to enhance engagement and functional outcomes in children with CP.

Control Group

Receives conventional rehabilitation exercise program

Group Type ACTIVE_COMPARATOR

Conventional Rehabilitation Exercise

Intervention Type OTHER

Participants received standard rehabilitation exercises including activities to improve gross and fine motor skills, balance, coordination, muscle strength, joint range of motion, and cardiovascular capacity.

Interventions

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Task-Oriented Aquatherapy Program

A 16-week program where each child engages in activities tailored to their five most important occupations, identified via COPM. Sessions are 40 minutes, twice weekly, focused on improving occupational performance, participation, and motivation. The program is structured, individualized, and designed to enhance engagement and functional outcomes in children with CP.

Intervention Type BEHAVIORAL

Conventional Rehabilitation Exercise

Participants received standard rehabilitation exercises including activities to improve gross and fine motor skills, balance, coordination, muscle strength, joint range of motion, and cardiovascular capacity.

Intervention Type OTHER

Other Intervention Names

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Study Group Intervention Control Group Intervention

Eligibility Criteria

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Inclusion Criteria

* Children with CP classified as GMFCS levels 1-3 and MACS levels 1-3.
* Children and caregivers who voluntarily agreed to participate

Exclusion Criteria

* Severe intellectual disability
* MAS levels 3-4
* Surgery or botulinum toxin injection within the past 6 months
* Significant hearing or vision impairment interfering with assessment
* Medical conditions preventing exercise (e.g., cardiovascular failure)
* Conditions preventing aquatic exercise (e.g., infection, open wound, incontinence)
Minimum Eligible Age

6 Years

Maximum Eligible Age

18 Years

Eligible Sex

ALL

Accepts Healthy Volunteers

No

Sponsors

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Hacettepe University

OTHER

Sponsor Role lead

Responsible Party

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Aybike Baykan

Principal Investigator / Graduate Researcher

Responsibility Role PRINCIPAL_INVESTIGATOR

Principal Investigators

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Sedef Şahin, Assoc. Prof.

Role: STUDY_DIRECTOR

Hacettepe University

Aybike Baykan, PT, MSc

Role: PRINCIPAL_INVESTIGATOR

Etimesgut Belediyesi Engelsiz Yaşam Özel Eğitim ve Rehabilitasyon Merkezi

Locations

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Hacettepe University

Ankara, Altındağ, Turkey (Türkiye)

Site Status

Countries

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Turkey (Türkiye)

References

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Baykan A., Serebral Palsi Tanılı Çocuklarda Görev Odaklı Su İçi Egzersizin Okupasyonel Performans ve Katılım Üzerine Etkisi, Hacettepe Üniversitesi Sağlık Bilimleri Enstitüsü Ergoterapi Programı Yüksek Lisans Tezi, Ankara, 2023.

Reference Type RESULT

Related Links

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https://openaccess.hacettepe.edu.tr/items/d3aac588-7d58-4c0b-bbc2-621829e4942c

Hacettepe University Occupational Therapy Department Thesis Collection

Other Identifiers

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AYBIKE-TOAP-CP-CROSSOVER-23

Identifier Type: -

Identifier Source: org_study_id

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