Compare The Effectiveness of SCT and PNF In Children With Cerebral Palsy

Compare The Effectiveness of Spider Cage Therapy and Proprioceptive Neuromuscular Facilitation (PNF) In Children With Cerebral Palsy

This study will evaluate the comparative effectiveness of Spider Cage Therapy (SCT) and Proprioceptive Neuromuscular Facilitation (PNF) in managing motor impairments in children with cerebral palsy (CP). Cerebral palsy often leads to motor deficits that limit movement and impair functionality.

Study Overview

• Status: Completed
• Conditions: Cerebral Palsy
• Intervention / Treatment: Combination product: Proprioceptive Neuromuscular Facilitation (PNF); Combination product: Spider Cage Therapy Group; Diagnostic test: Combined PNF and Spider Cage Therapy Group

Detailed Description

SCT and PNF are therapeutic interventions that target these motor challenges but use distinct approaches. Spider Cage Therapy will involve the use of elastic cords within a supportive frame (the "spider cage") to stabilize the child, enhancing postural control and enabling dynamic movement training. This approach is expected to improve balance and alignment, promoting functional mobility. In contrast, PNF will focus on neuromuscular reeducation through specific movement patterns intended to enhance strength, coordination, and flexibility. By comparing SCT and PNF, this study aims to identify their respective impacts on motor function improvements, particularly in gross motor skills, balance, and postural stability, potentially guiding future rehabilitation protocols for children with CP.

• Study Type: Interventional
• Enrollment (Actual): 90
• Phase: Not Applicable

Contacts and Locations

Study Locations

• Pakistan
  • Punjab
    • Lahore, Punjab, Pakistan
      • Azra Naheed Medical College, Superior University

Participation Criteria

Eligibility Criteria

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

Description

Inclusion Criteria:

• Children aged 4-12 years.
• Clinical diagnosis of cerebral palsy.
• Classified within Gross Motor Function Classification System (GMFCS) levels I to III.
• Ability to follow instructions and participate in therapy sessions.

Exclusion Criteria:

• Severe cognitive impairments hindering participation.
• Severe musculoskeletal deformities or recent surgeries.
• Other medical conditions contraindicating participation in physical therapy.

Study Plan

How is the study designed?

Design Details

• Primary Purpose: Health Services Research
• Allocation: Randomized
• Interventional Model: Parallel Assignment
• Masking: None (Open Label)

Number of Arms

3

Arms and Interventions

Participant Group / Arm	Intervention / Treatment
Experimental: Proprioceptive Neuromuscular Facilitation (PNF)	Combination product: Proprioceptive Neuromuscular Facilitation (PNF); Participants in the PNF group will undergo intensive training of the affected limbs for 20 minutes per day, 5 days a week, over a 4-week period. During therapy sessions, the unaffected limb will be constrained using a mitt or cast to encourage focused activation and strengthening of the affected side. The therapy will include repetitive movement patterns designed to enhance strength, flexibility, and coordination.
Experimental: Spider Cage Therapy Group	Combination product: Spider Cage Therapy Group; This group will participate in therapy sessions within the Spider Cage for 20 minutes per day, 5 days a week, for 4 weeks. Interventions will involve weight-bearing exercises, movement facilitation, and balance training, utilizing the cage's elastic cords to support and stabilize posture. The goal is to improve gross motor skills, balance, and controlled movement.
Active Comparator: Combined PNF and Spider Cage Therapy Group	Diagnostic test: Combined PNF and Spider Cage Therapy Group; Participants in this group will receive both PNF and Spider Cage Therapy, with integrated principles and techniques from both approaches. The intensity and duration will be consistent with the individual therapy groups, with sessions held for 20 minutes per day, 5 days a week, over 4 weeks. This combination is expected to enhance functional outcomes by targeting both strength/coordination and balance/postural control.

What is the study measuring?

Primary Outcome Measures

Outcome Measure	Measure Description	Time Frame
Gross Motor Function Measure (GMFM-66	Five levels and each has different nbr of questions each having 0- 3 score 0 no movement 3 complete movement	12 Months
Paedetric balance scale	14 items each have 0-4 score total 56 0 totally dependent 4 independently can prrform movement	12 months
Functional Independence Measure for Children (WeeFIM)	for overall functional independence (FIM) it has total 18 items 13 relatesd to mobilty and 5 regarding cognition Each has1- 7 score where reports total dependence and 7 shows complete independence	12 months

Collaborators and Investigators

• Sponsor: Superior University

Study record dates

Study Major Dates

• Study Start (Actual): October 28, 2023
• Primary Completion (Actual): April 20, 2024
• Study Completion (Actual): August 28, 2024

Study Registration Dates

• First Submitted: February 24, 2025
• First Submitted That Met QC Criteria: February 24, 2025
• First Posted (Actual): March 25, 2025

Study Record Updates

• Last Update Posted (Actual): March 25, 2025
• Last Update Submitted That Met QC Criteria: February 24, 2025
• Last Verified: February 1, 2025

More Information

Terms related to this study

• Additional Relevant MeSH Terms: Brain Diseases; Central Nervous System Diseases; Nervous System Diseases; Brain Damage, Chronic; Cerebral Palsy
• Other Study ID Numbers: MSRSW/Batch-Fall22/754

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