Dynamic surface exercise to improve balance in children with diplegic cerebral palsy
Official title: Effects of Dynamic Surface Exercise Training on Functional Mobility, Balance and Coordination in Children With Diplegic Cerebral Palsy
Run by Riphah International University · NCT07244159 · Data updated 2026-11-12
This will test whether dynamic surface exercise training helps improve balance and movement in children aged 5–8 with diplegic cerebral palsy who are GMFCS level III–IV.
Quick facts
| Study type | Interventional |
|---|---|
| Ages | 5 Years to 8 Years |
| Sex | All |
| Enrollment | 14 (estimated) |
| Sponsor | Riphah International University Academic / other |
| Locations | 1 site (Lahore, Punjab Province) |
| Status | Recruiting |
| Started | October 22, 2025 |
| Main results expected | January 30, 2026 |
| Study ends | January 30, 2026 |
| Registry record updated | November 24, 2025 |
| Trial ID | NCT07244159 on ClinicalTrials.gov |
Is this trial a fit for you?
✓Likely a good fit
Children aged 5–8 years with diplegic cerebral palsy classified as GMFCS level III or IV who can follow verbal instructions and whose parents consent are ideal candidates.
✕Probably not a fit
Children outside the 5–8 age range, those with GMFCS levels outside III–IV, recent orthopedic surgery or botulinum toxin within six months, or those unable to follow instructions are unlikely to benefit from this protocol.
A plain-English reading of the study's rules. Only the study team can confirm whether you qualify.
What this trial studies
The study will recruit 14 children aged 5–8 years with diplegic cerebral palsy and GMFCS level III–IV and randomly assign them to either dynamic surface exercise training or standard physiotherapy. Each group will receive 60-minute active training sessions four days per week for six weeks. Outcomes (GMFM-88, Pediatric Balance Scale, and Timed Up and Go) will be recorded at baseline and after the 6-week intervention. Participants are enrolled by convenient sampling at a single center in Lahore and the full project is planned to complete within about 10 months of protocol approval.
Why it matters
Potential benefit: If successful, the approach could improve balance, coordination, and overall gross motor function, making daily activities easier for affected children.
How similar studies have gone: Prior small studies of balance training and unstable-surface exercises in children with cerebral palsy have reported some improvements in balance and gait, but overall evidence is limited and mixed.
Who can join: the full rules
Show full inclusion / exclusion criteria
Inclusion Criteria: * Age between 5 and 8 years of both genders * Classification as level III and IV on the Gross Motor Function Classification system (GMFCS) Exclusion Criteria: * • Any orthopedic surgery or botulinum toxin injection in the past 6 months. * Refusal by the parents to participate.
Where it's running
-
Hafiza Iram Batool
Lahore, Punjab Province, Pakistan Recruiting
Study contacts
- Principal investigator: Hafiza Iram Batool, MS-PT — Riphah International University
- Study coordinator: IMRAN AMJAD, Phd
- Email: imran.amjad@riphah.edu.pk
- Phone: 9233224390125
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How to take part
- Review the eligibility criteria above with your treating physician.
- Check the official listing on ClinicalTrials.gov for the latest contact details and recruitment status.
- Contact the study coordinator or principal investigator to ask for pre-screening. Pre-screening is free and never obligates you to enroll.