Examining the link between motor skills and balance in children with cerebral palsy

Relationship Between Gross Motor Coordination and Balance in Children With Spastic Cerebral Palsy

This study looks at whether better motor skills are linked to better balance in children aged five to eleven with cerebral palsy.

Quick facts

• Study type: Observational
• Enrollment: 60 (estimated)
• Ages: 5 Years to 11 Years
• Sex: All
• Sponsor: Sinai University (Academic / other)
• Locations: 1 site (Ismailia)
• Trial ID: NCT06531044 on ClinicalTrials.gov

What this trial studies

This observational study investigates the relationship between gross motor coordination and balance in children aged five to eleven with spastic cerebral palsy. Researchers aim to determine if these two abilities are connected, given that children with cerebral palsy often face challenges in both areas. The study will assess participants who meet specific inclusion criteria, including their ability to comprehend verbal commands and their classification on the Gross Motor Function Classification System. The hypothesis posits that there is no significant relationship between gross motor coordination and balance in this population.

Who should consider this trial

Good fit: Ideal candidates for this study are children aged five to eleven with spastic cerebral palsy who score Level I on the Gross Motor Function Classification System.

Not a fit: Patients with contractures, recent fractures, or other significant medical conditions such as epilepsy or osteoporosis may not benefit from this study.

Why it matters

Potential benefit: If successful, this study could provide insights that improve therapeutic approaches for enhancing motor skills and balance in children with cerebral palsy.

How similar studies have performed: While the relationship between motor coordination and balance has been explored in various contexts, this specific investigation in children with spastic cerebral palsy is relatively novel.

Eligibility criteria

Inclusion Criteria:

1. They were scored Level I on the Gross Motor Function Classification System (GMFCS).
2. The subjects' age was from five to eleven years.
3. They were at least 1-meter-tall and not less 20 Kg.
4. They had to comprehend verbal commands.
5. They were score 1 to 1+ based on Modified Ashworth' Scale.

Exclusion Criteria:

1. Contracture, deformity and/or tightness in upper or lower limbs.
2. Botulinum toxin in the last year.
3. Recent fracture.
4. Vertigo or dizziness.
5. Epilepsy.
6. Osteoporosis.
7. Recent operation in the six months at least (according to the type of operation).

Where this trial is running

Ismailia

• Sinai University — Ismailia, Egypt (Recruiting)

Study contacts

• Study coordinator: Alaa N Kora, PhD

Conditions Cerebral Palsy; Balance; Gross Motor Coordination