Plyometric Exercises Versus Wii Training in Children with Unilateral Cerebral Palsy

Efficacy of Plyometric Exercises Versus Wii Training on Upper Extremity Function in Children with Unilateral Cerebral Palsy: a Randomized Controlled Trial

Plyometric training includes muscle contraction that moves rapidly from the eccentric to the concentric phase of movement while using proper biomechanics. It is an effective neuromuscular stimulus that can improve motor functions of children with cerebral palsy. In plyometric training, muscles exert maximum force in short intervals of time, with the goal of increasing power.

Commercially available video games have been used for a wide range of clinical populations with generally positive clinical outcomes. They have been shown to be active enough to provide an increase in energy expenditure and physical activity in children with cerebral palsy. Furthermore, an early case study showed improvements in visual-perceptual processing, balance, and mobility in a child with cerebral palsy.

Study Overview

• Status: Completed
• Conditions: Sports Physical Therapy
• Intervention / Treatment: Other: Occupational therapy; Other: Wii training; Other: Plyometric training

Detailed Description

Ethics Statement This study was approved by the Institutional Review Board of the Faculty of Physical Therapy, Cairo University, Egypt and strictly adhered to the criteria proclaimed in the latest version of the Declaration of Helsinki code of ethics. Children's participation will be commissioned by asking their legal guardian to sign a consent form prior to data collection.

A convenient sample of ambulant children with unilateral CP will be recruited from the Out-patient Clinic Faculty of physical therapy, Cairo University and outpatient physical therapy clinics.

Sample size estimation To avoid a type II error, a preliminary power analysis (power =0.8, α=0.05, effect size =0.5) determined a sample size of 28 for this study. Accordingly, 35 children who met the eligible criteria will be included in the current study for possible dropouts.

Randomization The randomization process will be performed using sealed envelopes. The investigator will prepare 35 sealed envelopes that contain a piece of paper indicating whether each participant was in the Wii group (receive Wii training for 45 minutes) or plyometric group (receive plyometric exercises for 45 minutes). The randomization process will be carried out by a registration clerk who was not involved in any part of the study.

• Study Type: Interventional
• Enrollment (Actual): 42
• Phase: Not Applicable

Contacts and Locations

Study Locations

• Egypt
  • Giza, Egypt
    • Faculty of physical therapy, Cairo University

Participation Criteria

Eligibility Criteria

• Ages Eligible for Study: 8 years to 12 years (Child)
• Accepts Healthy Volunteers: No

Description

Inclusion Criteria:

• aged 8-12 years;
• able to understand and follow simple commands.

Exclusion Criteria:

- severe uncontrolled seizures;

Study Plan

How is the study designed?

Design Details

• Primary Purpose: Other
• Allocation: Randomized
• Interventional Model: Parallel Assignment
• Masking: Triple

Number of Arms

2

Arms and Interventions

Participant Group / Arm	Intervention / Treatment
Experimental: Wii group; Children in this group will receive a designed physical therapy and occupational therapy programs	Other: Occupational therapy; Both groups received a designed occupational therapy program for 30 minutes; Other: Wii training; The dose of Wii training was 40 minutes, three times a week for 12 weeks which is an interactive motion-based device.
Experimental: plyometric group; Children in this group will receive a designed physical therapy and occupational therapy programs and plyometric training	Other: Occupational therapy; Both groups received a designed occupational therapy program for 30 minutes; Other: Plyometric training; The designed plyometric training program basically focuses on upper extremity strength training and is developed according to the guidelines of the National Strength and Conditioning Association.

What is the study measuring?

Primary Outcome Measures

Outcome Measure	Measure Description	Time Frame
Upper extremity function	The quality of upper extremity skill test is a reliable and valid tool used to measure the motor function in children with cerebral palsy. The total scores for each domain percentage score range from zero to 100%	after 3 months of treatment
Hand grip strength	The hand held dynamometer (Patterson Medical, Warrenville, IL, USA) is a valid and reliable tool to assess grip strength. Each child performs three trials and the mean will be recorded in kilogram for statistical analysis.	after 3 months of treatment

Secondary Outcome Measures

Outcome Measure	Measure Description	Time Frame
Range of motion	An electronic goniometer will be used for the measurements of ROM of the affected upper limb in order to accurately track progress in a rehabilitation program. Shoulder flexion and abduction, elbow extension, forearm supination and wrist extension will be measured for all children before and after treatment	after 3 months of treatment
Selective motor control	Test of arm selective control, a valid and reliable tool, will be used to measure selectivity of upper extremity with total score for each upper extremity is 16 and 32 for both tested upper extremities.	after 3 months of treatment

Collaborators and Investigators

• Sponsor: Cairo University
• Investigators: Study Chair: walaa A El-nabie, Phd, Cairo university, faculty of physical therapy; Study Director: Hazem A Ali, Phd, Cairo university, faculty of physical therapy

Study record dates

Study Major Dates

• Study Start (Actual): April 1, 2022
• Primary Completion (Actual): March 30, 2024
• Study Completion (Actual): March 30, 2024

Study Registration Dates

• First Submitted: March 7, 2022
• First Submitted That Met QC Criteria: March 29, 2022
• First Posted (Actual): April 6, 2022

Study Record Updates

• Last Update Posted (Estimated): November 18, 2024
• Last Update Submitted That Met QC Criteria: November 15, 2024
• Last Verified: December 1, 2022

More Information

Terms related to this study

• Keywords: Cerebral palsy; upper extremity function; hand grip strength; Unilateral Cerebral Palsy; range of motion; Wii training; plyometric exercises
• Additional Relevant MeSH Terms: Brain Diseases; Central Nervous System Diseases; Nervous System Diseases; Brain Damage, Chronic; Cerebral Palsy
• Other Study ID Numbers: plyometric training

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
• product manufactured in and exported from the U.S.: No