Telerehabilitation Compared With Clinic-Based Physiotherapy in Children With Spastic Cerebral Palsy

November 2, 2026 updated by: Riphah International University

Effectiveness of Structured Telerehabilitation Compared With Clinic-Based Physiotherapy for Improving Gross Motor Functions in Young Children With Spastic Cerebral Palsy

This randomized controlled trial will compare structured telerehabilitation with clinic-based physiotherapy in children aged 4-12 years with spastic cerebral palsy. Both groups will receive physiotherapy three times per week for 12 weeks. The study will evaluate changes in gross motor function using the Gross Motor Function Measure (GMFM-88), assess spasticity using the Modified Ashworth Scale (MAS), and examine the usability of telerehabilitation using the Telehealth Usability Questionnaire (TUQ). The study aims to determine whether structured telerehabilitation can provide an effective alternative to clinic-based physiotherapy while potentially reducing barriers related to travel, cost, and access to pediatric rehabilitation services.

Study Overview

Status

Status

Indicates the current recruitment status or the expanded access status.
Recruiting

Conditions

Conditions

The disease, disorder, syndrome, illness, or injury that is being studied. On ClinicalTrials.gov, conditions may also include other health-related issues, such as lifespan, quality of life, and health risks.

Intervention / Treatment

Intervention / Treatment

A process or action that is the focus of a clinical study. Interventions include drugs, medical devices, procedures, vaccines, and other products that are either investigational or already available. Interventions can also include noninvasive approaches, such as education or modifying diet and exercise.

Detailed Description

The primary objective of this randomized controlled trial is to compare the effectiveness of structured telerehabilitation and clinic-based physiotherapy in improving gross motor functions among children aged 4-12 years with spastic cerebral palsy classified at Gross Motor Function Classification System (GMFCS) levels I-III. A secondary objective is to assess the usability of structured telerehabilitation using the Telehealth Usability Questionnaire (TUQ). A total of 44 participants will be randomly allocated to two groups, with 22 participants in each group. Both groups will receive physiotherapy three times per week for 12 weeks, with each session lasting approximately 45 minutes. Gross motor function will be assessed using the Gross Motor Function Measure-88 (GMFM-88), while spasticity will be evaluated using the Modified Ashworth Scale (MAS). Assessments will be conducted at baseline, six weeks, and 12 weeks to monitor changes during the intervention period. The study will determine whether structured telerehabilitation can provide comparable improvements in gross motor function to clinic-based physiotherapy and evaluate its usability as an alternative approach to delivering pediatric rehabilitation services.

Study Type

Study Type

Describes the nature of a clinical study. Study types include interventional studies (also called clinical trials), observational studies (including patient registries), and expanded access.
Interventional

Enrollment (Estimated)

Enrollment

The number of participants in a clinical study. The "anticipated" enrollment is the target number of participants that the researchers need for the study.
44

Phase

Phase

The stage of a clinical trial studying a drug or biological product, based on definitions developed by the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA). The phase is based on the study's objective, the number of participants, and other characteristics. There are five phases: Early Phase 1 (formerly listed as Phase 0), Phase 1, Phase 2, Phase 3, and Phase 4. Not Applicable is used to describe trials without FDA-defined phases, including trials of devices or behavioral interventions.
  • 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 Contact

Study Contact

The name and contact information for the person who can answer enrollment questions for a clinical study. Each location where the study is being conducted may also have a specific contact, who may be better able to answer those questions.

Study Locations

  • Pakistan
    • Kpk
      • Swābi, Kpk, Pakistan, 23430
        • Recruiting
        • Health and wellness physiotherapy and rehabilitation centre shewa adda swabi

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

Eligibility Criteria

The key requirements that people who want to participate in a clinical study must meet or the characteristics they must have. Eligibility criteria consist of both inclusion criteria (which are required for a person to participate in the study) and exclusion criteria (which prevent a person from participating). Types of eligibility criteria include whether a study accepts healthy volunteers, has age or age group requirements, or is limited by sex.

Ages Eligible for Study

4 years to 12 years (Child)

Accepts Healthy Volunteers

No

Genders Eligible for Study

All

Description

Inclusion Criteria:

  1. Children aged 4-12 years diagnosed with spastic cerebral palsy.
  2. Children classified at Gross Motor Function Classification System (GMFCS) levels I-III.
  3. Medically stable children able to participate in physiotherapy sessions.
  4. Availability of caregiver support and internet access sufficient to participate in telerehabilitation sessions.
  5. Written informed consent provided by a parent or legal guardian.

Exclusion Criteria:

  1. Children without adequate internet access or caregiver support required for telerehabilitation.
  2. Children with uncontrolled seizures or severe comorbidities that interfere with safe participation in physiotherapy.
  3. Children classified at GMFCS levels IV-V.
  4. Children who have undergone orthopedic surgery or received botulinum toxin injections within the preceding 6 months.

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: None (Open Label)

Arms and Interventions

Participant Group / Arm

Participant Group / Arm

A group or subgroup of participants in a clinical trial that receives a specific intervention/treatment, or no intervention, according to the trial's protocol.
Intervention / Treatment

Intervention / Treatment

A process or action that is the focus of a clinical study. Interventions include drugs, medical devices, procedures, vaccines, and other products that are either investigational or already available. Interventions can also include noninvasive approaches, such as education or modifying diet and exercise.
Experimental: Structured Telerehabilitation

Participants will receive a structured physiotherapy program remotely through video communication, three times per week for 12 weeks, with approximately 45 minutes per session.
Behavioral: Structured Telerehabilitation Program

A structured physiotherapy program delivered remotely through video communication under physiotherapist guidance, with caregiver assistance. The program will be conducted three times per week for 12 weeks, with each session lasting approximately 45 minutes. Exercises will include stretching, range-of-motion exercises, strengthening, balance training, functional mobility, postural control, and coordination activities tailored to the child's functional abilities.
Active Comparator: Clinic-Based Physiotherapy

Participants will receive a structured physiotherapy program in a clinical setting under direct physiotherapist supervision, three times per week for 12 weeks, with approximately 45 minutes per session.
Behavioral: Clinic-Based Physiotherapy Program

A structured physiotherapy program delivered in a clinical setting under direct physiotherapist supervision. The program will be conducted three times per week for 12 weeks, with each session lasting approximately 45 minutes. Exercises will include stretching, range-of-motion exercises, strengthening, balance training, functional mobility, postural control, and coordination activities tailored to the child's functional abilities.

What is the study measuring?

Primary Outcome Measures

Primary Outcome Measures

In a clinical study's protocol, the planned outcome measure that is the most important for evaluating the effect of an intervention/treatment. Most clinical studies have one primary outcome measure, but some have more than one.
Outcome Measure
Measure Description
Time Frame
Change in Gross Motor Function Measure-88 (GMFM-88) Score
Time Frame: Baseline, 6 weeks, and 12 weeks after the start of the intervention.

Gross motor function will be assessed using the Gross Motor Function Measure-88 (GMFM-88), a standardized tool used to evaluate motor abilities in children with cerebral palsy across five dimensions: lying and rolling, sitting, crawling and kneeling, standing, and walking, running, and jumping. Changes in GMFM-88 scores from baseline to the end of the 12-week intervention will be compared between the structured telerehabilitation and clinic-based physiotherapy groups.
Baseline, 6 weeks, and 12 weeks after the start of the intervention.

Secondary Outcome Measures

Secondary Outcome Measures

In a clinical study's protocol, a planned outcome measure that is not as important as the primary outcome measure for evaluating the effect of an intervention but is still of interest. Most clinical studies have more than one secondary outcome measure.
Outcome Measure
Measure Description
Time Frame
Change in Modified Ashworth Scale (MAS) Scores
Time Frame: Baseline and 12 weeks after the start of the intervention.

Spasticity will be assessed using the Modified Ashworth Scale (MAS), which measures resistance to passive movement during clinical examination. Changes in MAS scores from baseline to the end of the intervention will be compared between the two study groups.
Baseline and 12 weeks after the start of the intervention.
Usability of the Structured Telerehabilitation Program
Time Frame: At the end of the 12-week intervention.

The usability of the structured telerehabilitation program will be assessed using the Telehealth Usability Questionnaire (TUQ) at the end of the intervention. The questionnaire will evaluate caregivers' perceptions of the usability and acceptability of the telerehabilitation approach.
At the end of the 12-week intervention.

Collaborators and Investigators

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

Sponsor

Sponsor

The organization or person who initiates the study and who has authority and control over the study.
Riphah International University

Collaborators

Collaborators

An organization other than the sponsor that provides support for a clinical study. This support may include activities related to funding, design, implementation, data analysis, or reporting.
Bacha Khan Medical College

Investigators

Investigators

A researcher involved in a clinical study. Related terms include site principal investigator, site sub-investigator, study chair, study director, and study principal investigator.
  • Principal Investigator: Zobia Naeem, MS, Riphah International University

Publications and helpful links

The person responsible for entering information about the study voluntarily provides these publications. These may be about anything related to the study.

General Publications

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)

Study Start

The actual date on which the first participant was enrolled in a clinical study. The "anticipated" study start date is the date that the researchers think will be the study start date.
October 21, 2026

Primary Completion (Estimated)

Primary Completion

The date on which the last participant in a clinical study was examined or received an intervention to collect final data for the primary outcome measure. Whether the clinical study ended according to the protocol or was terminated does not affect this date. For clinical studies with more than one primary outcome measure with different completion dates, this term refers to the date on which data collection is completed for all the primary outcome measures. The "anticipated" primary completion date is the date that the researchers think will be the primary completion date for the study.
April 5, 2027

Study Completion (Estimated)

Study Completion

The date on which the last participant in a clinical study was examined or received an intervention/treatment to collect final data for the primary outcome measures, secondary outcome measures, and adverse events (that is, the last participant's last visit). The "anticipated" study completion date is the date that the researchers think will be the study completion date.
April 12, 2027

Study Registration Dates

First Submitted

First Submitted

The date on which the study sponsor or investigator first submitted a study record to ClinicalTrials.gov. There is typically a delay of a few days between the first submitted date and the record's availability on ClinicalTrials.gov (the first posted date).
November 2, 2026

First Submitted That Met QC Criteria

First Submitted That Met QC Criteria

The date on which the study sponsor or investigator first submits a study record that is consistent with National Library of Medicine (NLM) quality control (QC) review criteria. The sponsor or investigator may need to revise and submit a study record one or more times before NLM's QC review criteria are met. It is the responsibility of the sponsor or investigator to ensure that the study record is consistent with the NLM QC review criteria.
November 2, 2026

First Posted (Actual)

First Posted

The date on which the study record was first available on ClinicalTrials.gov after National Library of Medicine (NLM) quality control (QC) review has concluded. There is typically a delay of a few days between the date the study sponsor or investigator submitted the study record and the first posted date.
November 6, 2026

Study Record Updates

Last Update Posted (Actual)

Last Update Posted

The most recent date on which changes to a study record were made available on ClinicalTrials.gov. There may be a delay between when the changes were submitted to ClinicalTrials.gov by the study's sponsor or investigator (the last update submitted date) and the last update posted date.
November 6, 2026

Last Update Submitted That Met QC Criteria

Last Update Submitted That Met QC Criteria

The most recent date on which the study sponsor or investigator submitted changes to a study record that are consistent with National Library of Medicine (NLM) quality control (QC) review criteria. It is the responsibility of the sponsor or investigator to ensure that the study record is consistent with the NLM QC review criteria.
November 2, 2026

Last Verified

Last Verified

The most recent date on which the study sponsor or investigator confirmed the information about a clinical study on ClinicalTrials.gov as accurate and current. If a study with a recruitment status of recruiting; not yet recruiting; or active, not recruiting has not been confirmed within the past 2 years, the study's recruitment status is shown as unknown.
November 1, 2026

More Information

Terms related to this study

Keywords

Additional Relevant MeSH Terms

Other Study ID Numbers

Other Study ID Numbers

Identifiers or ID numbers other than the NCT number that are assigned to a clinical study by the study's sponsor, funders, or others. These numbers may include unique identifiers from other trial registries and National Institutes of Health grant numbers.
  • Adan Nisar

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.

Cookie Settings

We use cookies to ensure that we give you the best experience on our website. For more details carefully read our Privacy and Cookies Policy. ...>>>You can change your preferences or withdraw your consent at any time by deleting the cookies from your website or computer as described in the policy. Please accept it and choose your preferences by ticking the corresponding boxes in the "Manage Settings" section below. Please carefully read our Terms of Service before you proceed with using any part of this website.
«Manage Settings