Effect of Coordinative Locomotor Training in Children With Cerebral Palsy (CLT-PHYSIO-CP)

June 14, 2026 updated by: Muhammad Muneeb Jafar, University of Faisalabad

Effect of Coordinative Locomotor Training as Compared to Conventional Physio Therapy in Improving Interlimb Coordination and Dynamic Balance Among Children With Spastic Hemiplegic Cerebral Palsy

Cerebral palsy is a brain disorder that affects how children move their bodies. Children with spastic hemiplegic CP have stiffness on one side of the body, making it hard to walk and balance. This study will test a special exercise program called Coordinative Locomotor Training (CLT). CLT uses running and skating movements to train both arms and legs to work together. The investigator want to see if CLT works better than regular physiotherapy for improving coordination and balance in participants. Half of the children will do CLT, and the other half will do regular exercises. The investogar will measure their balance and walking ability before and after 4 weeks of training.

Study Overview

Status

Active, not recruiting

Conditions

Intervention / Treatment

Detailed Description

This is a double-blinded, parallel-group, randomized controlled trial conducted at the Department of Rehabilitation Sciences, The University of Faisalabad. A total of 38 children diagnosed with spastic hemiplegic cerebral palsy (GMFCS Level I-II), aged 8 to 12 years, will be recruited from pediatric physiotherapy centers. Participants will be randomly assigned (1:1 ratio) using a computer-generated randomization list to either the Experimental Group (CLT) or the Control Group (CPT). The Experimental Group (n=19) will receive Coordinative Locomotor Training based on Proprioceptive Neuromuscular Facilitation (PNF) sprinter and skater patterns. The intervention will be delivered in three postures (supine, sitting, and single-leg stand) for 3 sets of 5 repetitions with a 10-second hold and 10-second rest, lasting 30 minutes per session, 3 times per week for 4 weeks (total 12 sessions). The Control Group (n=19) will receive conventional physiotherapy consisting of hot pack application for 10 minutes, rotational exercises for 5 minutes, followed by stretching and resistance training for 15 minutes, lasting 30 minutes per session, 3 times per week for 4 weeks (total 12 sessions). The primary outcome measures are interlimb coordination (assessed via 1-step time asymmetry and stride time variability) and dynamic balance (Pediatric Balance Scale). Secondary outcomes include functional gait (TUG and 10MWT) and static balance (one-leg stand test).Participants will not know whether they are in experiment or control group. A blinded assessor will evaluate all participants at baseline (Week 0) and post-intervention (Week 8). Data will be analyzed using SPSS version 23.

Study Type

Interventional

Enrollment (Actual)

38

Phase

  • Not Applicable

Contacts and Locations

This section provides the contact details for those conducting the study, and information on where this study is being conducted.

Study Locations

    • Punjab Province
      • Faisalābad, Punjab Province, Pakistan, 3800
        • The University of Faisalabad

Participation Criteria

Researchers look for people who fit a certain description, called eligibility criteria. Some examples of these criteria are a person's general health condition or prior treatments.

Eligibility Criteria

Ages Eligible for Study

  • Child

Accepts Healthy Volunteers

No

Description

Inclusion Criteria:

  • Children aged 8 to 12 years.
  • Diagnosed with spastic hemiplegic cerebral palsy.
  • GMFCS Level I or II.
  • Ability to follow simple verbal instructions.
  • Medically stable with no changes in anti-spastic medication in the last 3 months.

Exclusion Criteria:

  • Orthopedic surgery or Botulinum toxin injection in the last 6 months.
  • Severe cognitive impairment preventing cooperation.
  • Visual or vestibular deficits affecting balance.
  • Uncontrolled seizures.
  • Other neurological or musculoskeletal disorders unrelated to CP.

Study Plan

This section provides details of the study plan, including how the study is designed and what the study is measuring.

How is the study designed?

Design Details

  • Primary Purpose: Treatment
  • Allocation: Randomized
  • Interventional Model: Parallel Assignment
  • Masking: Double

Arms and Interventions

Participant Group / Arm
Intervention / Treatment
Experimental: Coordinative Locomotor Training (CLT)
PNF-based sprinter and skater patterns in supine, sitting, and standing.
Participants perform PNF sprinter pattern (flexion/adduction/external rotation on one side with extension/abduction/internal rotation on the opposite side) and skater pattern (reciprocal upper and lower limb movements). Exercises are done for 3 sets of 5 reps, 10-sec holds, 30 min/session, 3x/week for 4 weeks.
Active Comparator: Conventional Physiotherapy (CPT)
ROM exercises, stretching, and resistance training.
rotational exercises (5 min), then passive stretching of hamstrings, quadriceps, and ankle plantarflexors combined with resistance training using elastic bands (15 min).

What is the study measuring?

Primary Outcome Measures

Outcome Measure
Measure Description
Time Frame
Change in Interlimb Coordination
Time Frame: Baseline (Week 0) and Post-intervention (Week 8)
Measured by 1-step time asymmetry (NAI) during gait analysis.
Baseline (Week 0) and Post-intervention (Week 8)
Change in Dynamic Balance
Time Frame: Baseline (Week 0) and Post-intervention (Week 8)
Measured by the Pediatric Balance Scale (PBS). A 14-item scale scoring from 0 to 56. Higher scores indicate better balance.
Baseline (Week 0) and Post-intervention (Week 8)

Secondary Outcome Measures

Outcome Measure
Measure Description
Time Frame
Change in Functional Gait Speed
Time Frame: Baseline (Week 0) and Post-intervention (Week 8)
Measured by the Time Up and Go (TUG) test in seconds,
Baseline (Week 0) and Post-intervention (Week 8)

Collaborators and Investigators

This is where you will find people and organizations involved with this study.

Sponsor

Study record dates

These dates track the progress of study record and summary results submissions to ClinicalTrials.gov. Study records and reported results are reviewed by the National Library of Medicine (NLM) to make sure they meet specific quality control standards before being posted on the public website.

Study Major Dates

Study Start (Actual)

February 15, 2026

Primary Completion (Estimated)

June 15, 2026

Study Completion (Estimated)

July 1, 2026

Study Registration Dates

First Submitted

June 8, 2026

First Submitted That Met QC Criteria

June 14, 2026

First Posted (Actual)

June 16, 2026

Study Record Updates

Last Update Posted (Actual)

June 16, 2026

Last Update Submitted That Met QC Criteria

June 14, 2026

Last Verified

June 1, 2026

More Information

Terms related to this study

Other Study ID Numbers

  • TUF/EIRB/ 199 /26

Plan for Individual participant data (IPD)

Plan to Share Individual Participant Data (IPD)?

NO

Drug and device information, study documents

Studies a U.S. FDA-regulated drug product

No

Studies a U.S. FDA-regulated device product

No

This information was retrieved directly from the website clinicaltrials.gov without any changes. If you have any requests to change, remove or update your study details, please contact register@clinicaltrials.gov. As soon as a change is implemented on clinicaltrials.gov, this will be updated automatically on our website as well.

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