Comparison of the Effects of Vojta and Bobath Treatment on Gait and Balance in Diplegic Cerebral Palsy

Comparison of the Effects of Vojta and Bobath Treatment on Gait and Balance in Diplegic Cerebral Palsy.

This study aims compare the effects of Vojta verses Bobath therapy on gait in children with diplegic cerebral palsy and to compare the effects of Vojta versus Bobath therapy on balance in children with diplegic cerebral palsy. The study will also determine the combined effects of Vojta and Bobath on gait and balance in children with diplegic cerebral palsy.

Study Overview

• Status: Completed
• Conditions: Cerebral Palsy Spastic Diplegia
• Intervention / Treatment: Other: Vojta Therapy; Other: Bobath Therapy; Other: Combined Vojta and Bobath Therapy

Detailed Description

The study may provide non-invasive and cost-effective treatment option in improving balance & gait in children with cerebral palsy. This can increase the child independence, confidence and quality of life. Additionally, this study may contribute to the development of evidence-based rehabilitation protocols, which can help guide clinical decision-making and treatment options. The study may provide insight into the feasibility and safety of combining Vojta and Bobath treatments, which can guide future research and practice in this area. Moreover, combination of treatments may have better outcomes as compared to the two individual techniques. The study aims compare the effects of Vojta verses Bobath therapy on gait in children with diplegic cerebral palsy and to compare the effects of Vojta versus Bobath therapy on balance in children with diplegic cerebral palsy. The study will also determine the combined effects of Vojta and Bobath on gait and balance in children with diplegic cerebral palsy.

• Study Type: Interventional
• Enrollment (Actual): 72
• Phase: Not Applicable

Contacts and Locations

Study Locations

• Pakistan
  • Punjab
    • Rawalpindi, Punjab, Pakistan, 46060
      • Child Development Center

Participation Criteria

Eligibility Criteria

• Ages Eligible for Study: Child
• Accepts Healthy Volunteers: No

Description

Inclusion Criteria:

• Diagnosed cases of spastic diplegic cerebral palsy
• GMFCS level II & III
• Modified Ashworth score greater than 1+
• Age 3-8 Years
• Either gender
• Children capable of understanding and executing commands;
• Children who can adopt the orthostatic position necessary to assess balance & gait

Exclusion Criteria:

• Children with any other associated disease (DDH, any orthopedic complication)
• Children with mental retardation;
• Who cannot participate constantly in physical therapy sessions;
• Profound visual or hearing impairments;

Study Plan

How is the study designed?

Design Details

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

Number of Arms

3

Arms and Interventions

Participant Group / Arm	Intervention / Treatment
Experimental: Vojta Therapy group; Vojta Therapy group for gait & balance	Other: Vojta Therapy; Exercises will be performed in supine, lateral, decubitus and reflex crawling. Exercises will include Stretching's, ROMs Exercises, Stimulation of 10 different zones for locomotion & gentle pressure applied to stimulation areas. Frequency of exercises will be 2 times a week, duration 40 minutes per day.
Experimental: Bobath Therapy group; Bobath Therapy group for gait & balance	Other: Bobath Therapy; Exercises will be performed in supine, lateral, prone and standing position. Exercises includes stretching Exercises, ROMs, Quadruped imbalance exercise, Imbalance from the kneeling exercise, Cervant Knight exercise, Tandem walk, Kicking a ball, Step climbing, marching at one place with alternate foot Frequency of exercises will be 2 times a week, duration 40 minutes per day.
Experimental: Combined Vojta and Bobath therapy; Combined Vojta and Bobath therapy for gait & balance	Other: Combined Vojta and Bobath Therapy; Combined Vojta and Bobath exercises along with the conventional treatment. Frequency of exercises will be 2 times a week, duration 40 minutes per day.

What is the study measuring?

Primary Outcome Measures

Outcome Measure	Measure Description	Time Frame
Gross Motor Functional Classification System (GMFCS)	The Gross Motor Functional Classification System (GMFCS) is the assessment tool to measure motor function in children with cerebral palsy. GMFCS is a five-level classification that differentiates children with Level I:Walks independently, Level II: Walks with limitations, Level III: Walks with hand- held mobility, Level IV: Self mobility with limitations, may use powered mobility & Level V: Transported in a manual wheelchair. The inter-rater reliability of GMFCS have a moderate agreement with a kappa (k) of 0.55 in children <2 years of age and excellent agreement with a kappa of 0.75 in children 2-12 years of age. This strong inter-rater reliability supports the use of the GMFCS as a classification of gross motor function in children ages 2-12 years.	8 weeks
Goniometer	The Goniometer measures the angle created at a joint by the adjacent bones of the body. Goniometer measurement represent the actual joint range of motion. There are multiple types of goniometer but universal goniometer is widely used in physiotherapy settings.	8 weeks
Paediatric Berg Balance Scale	The Paediatric Berg Balance Scale is used to assess functional balance skills in school-aged children. The scale consists of 14 items that scored from 0 points (lowest function) to 4 (highest function) with a maximum score of 56 points. Concurrent validity between Pediatric Balance Scale and GMFM at baseline (r=0.095), follow-up (r=0.44-0.87). Predictive validity of Pediatric validity and GMFM at follow-up (r=0.90-0.92) The test retest reliability is extremely high [(ICC3, 1=0.9987)].	8 weeks
Step Length	Step length is typically measured in centimeters (cm) or inches. Step length is used in clinical settings to assess gait abnormalities and has implications for rehabilitation. Adequate step length contributes to effective ambulation and helps maintain stability and momentum during walking.	8 weeks
Stride Length	Stride length is a key parameter in gait analysis that refers to the distance covered in one complete cycle of walking or running, specifically the distance between the initial contact point of one foot and the initial contact point of the same foot on the next step. Stride length is typically measured in units such as centimeters (cm) or inches. Stride length is critical in clinical assessments for identifying gait abnormalities.	8 weeks
Cadence	Cadence refers to the number of steps a person takes per unit of time, typically expressed as steps per minute (spm). It is a critical metric in gait analysis, providing insights into walking or running patterns and overall locomotion efficiency. A normal cadence (generally between 100 to 130 steps per minute for walking) is important for maintaining stability and rhythm during locomotion. Abnormal cadence can lead to increased fall risk and affect overall mobility.	8 weeks
Walking Base	Walking base, also known as base of support or stance width, refers to the distance between the feet when a person is walking. Specifically, it is the lateral distance between the heel centers of both feet during the walking cycle. A wider walking base indicates that the feet are positioned farther apart, while a narrower walking base means they are closer together. Walking base is typically measured in centimeters (cm).Walking base is a significant parameter in the assessment of gait and balance, providing insights into an individual's stability and mobility.	8 weeks

Collaborators and Investigators

• Sponsor: Riphah International University
• Investigators: Principal Investigator: Abrish Habib Abbasi, MS-NMPT, Riphah International University

Study record dates

Study Major Dates

• Study Start (Actual): August 25, 2023
• Primary Completion (Actual): February 25, 2024
• Study Completion (Actual): February 25, 2024

Study Registration Dates

• First Submitted: August 26, 2023
• First Submitted That Met QC Criteria: January 1, 2025
• First Posted (Actual): March 25, 2025

Study Record Updates

• Last Update Posted (Actual): March 25, 2025
• Last Update Submitted That Met QC Criteria: January 1, 2025
• Last Verified: January 1, 2025

More Information

Terms related to this study

• Keywords: gait; Cerebral palsy; balance; Vojta Therapy; Bobath Therapy
• Additional Relevant MeSH Terms: Neurologic Manifestations; Brain Diseases; Central Nervous System Diseases; Nervous System Diseases; Brain Damage, Chronic; Cerebral Palsy; Paralysis
• Other Study ID Numbers: Unsa Baloch/ 01641

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