Effects Of DPPT On Motor Skills And Sleep In Children With Autism (DPPT)

February 23, 2026 updated by: Riphah International University

Effects of Wilbarger Deep Pressure and Proprioceptive Technique (DPPT) on Motor Skills and Sleep Pattern in Children With Autism Spectrum Disorder.

It will be conducted as a Quasi Experimental study across pediatric therapy centers, specialized autism clinics, and special schools. Using non-probability convenience sampling, the study will enroll Autistic children aged 6-10 years who exhibit sensory processing difficulties, motor skill delays, and sleep disturbances. Exclusion criteria include other neurological or developmental disorders and children with major physical problems. Motor skills will be assessed with the Bruininks-Oseretsky Test of Motor Proficiency (BOT-2), and sleep quality will be measured using the Children's Sleep Habits Questionnaire (CSHQ).

Participants will be receiving Wilbarger DPPT along with their usual therapy sessions, which may include general occupational therapy, physical therapy, ABA etc. The DPPT intervention will occur three times per week for six weeks, with each session lasting approximately 30-45 minutes, including brushing, joint compressions, and calming activities. Data will be collected at baseline and post-intervention, focusing on motor skill improvement and sleep quality changes. SPSS version 23 will be used for statistical analysis.

Study Overview

Status

Recruiting

Conditions

Intervention / Treatment

Detailed Description

Children with Autism Spectrum Disorder (ASD) frequently experience sensory processing difficulties, where they may either overreact or underreact to sensory stimuli in their environment. This sensory deregulation can significantly impact essential functions, including motor skills and sleep quality, both0 crucial for overall development and day-to day engagement. Sensory Integration Therapy (SIT), is a well-established approach used to help individuals with sensory processing challenges. Ayres' work emphasized that when the brain effectively organizes sensory input, it can foster better behavioral and motor responses, leading to improved participation in daily activities. Various sensory-based interventions have been developed, including Wilbarger Deep Pressure and Proprioceptive Technique (DPPT). The Wilbarger protocol, or DPPT, is a specific approach using firm pressure and joint compressions at regular intervals, aiming to create a calming, organizing effect on the nervous system. The "brushing" aspect of this technique involves using a soft surgical brush over the skin to stimulate sensory receptors, followed by compressions to the joints, which is thought to help regulate sensory input and reduce sensory defensiveness. This study aims to assess the impact of DPPT on motor skills and sleep patterns in children with ASD, exploring whether DPPT can enhance functional motor skills and improve sleep quality.

It will be conducted as a Quasi Experimental study across pediatric therapy centers, specialized autism clinics, and special schools. Using non-probability convenience sampling, the study will enroll Autistic children aged 6-10 years who exhibit sensory processing difficulties, motor skill delays, and sleep disturbances. Exclusion criteria include other neurological or developmental disorders and children with major physical problems. Motor skills will be assessed with the Bruininks-Oseretsky Test of Motor Proficiency (BOT-2), and sleep quality will be measured using the Children's Sleep Habits Questionnaire (CSHQ).

Participants will be receiving Wilbarger DPPT along with their usual therapy sessions, which may include general occupational therapy, physical therapy, ABA etc. The DPPT intervention will occur three times per week for six weeks, with each session lasting approximately 30-45 minutes, including brushing, joint compressions, and calming activities. Data will be collected at baseline and post-intervention, focusing on motor skill improvement and sleep quality changes. SPSS version 23 will be used for statistical analysis.

Study Type

Interventional

Enrollment (Estimated)

40

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 Contact

Study Contact Backup

Study Locations

  • Pakistan
    • Punjab Province
      • Lahore, Punjab Province, Pakistan, 54000

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 diagnosed with Autism
  • Both Genders Males and Females
  • Age 6-11
  • Autistic children diagnosed with sensory processing disorder and reported with motor skill delays and sleep disturbances.
  • Children scoring within the "Definite Difference" range in sensory processing areas on the Sensory Profile 2.

Exclusion Criteria:

  • Children with other neurological or Developmental disorders
  • No serious physical or behavioral impairments (blindness and deafness)
  • Children with multiple diagnosis along with ASD.

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: Other
  • Allocation: N/A
  • Interventional Model: Single Group Assignment
  • Masking: None (Open Label)

Arms and Interventions

Participant Group / Arm
Intervention / Treatment
Other: Intervention group
Participants will receive the Wilbarger Deep Pressure and Proprioceptive Technique (DPPT) along with their usual therapies (OT, PT, ABA) to improve sensory processing, motor skills, and sleep in children with ASD. Sessions will be conducted in a calm setting, with explanations provided to ensure comfort. The DPPT includes 5-10 minutes of deep-pressure brushing using a soft surgical brush on the arms, back, legs, and feet, followed by 5-10 minutes of gentle joint compressions on shoulders, elbows, knees, and ankles (3-5 seconds each). Calming activities like deep breathing or quiet play will follow to aid sensory integration. The intervention will occur thrice weekly for six weeks (30-45 minutes/session). Progress will be measured using BOT-2 for motor skills and CSHQ for sleep at baseline and post-intervention.
Other: Wilbarger Deep Pressure and Proprioceptive Technique (DPPT)
Participants will receive the Wilbarger Deep Pressure and Proprioceptive Technique (DPPT). Each session will begin in a calm, quiet environment to reduce distractions, with the therapist explaining the process in simple terms. The brushing protocol involves using a soft surgical brush to apply firm yet gentle deep pressure to the arms, back, legs, and feet for about 5-10 minutes. This is followed by gentle joint compressions to the shoulders, elbows, knees, and ankles, each held for 3-5 seconds, lasting another 5-10 minutes. Afterward, calming activities such as deep breathing or quiet play help the child integrate the sensory input. The DPPT will be administered three times per week for six weeks, with each session lasting approximately 30-45 minutes, including brushing, joint compressions, and calming activities.

What is the study measuring?

Primary Outcome Measures

Outcome Measure
Measure Description
Time Frame
Bruininks-Oseretsky test for Motor Proficiency (BOT-2)
Time Frame: Baseline,6 weeks
The Bruininks-Oseretsky Test of Motor Proficiency, Second Edition (BOT-2) is an individually administered test that uses engaging, goal-directed activities to measure a wide array of motor skills in individuals ages 4 through 21. The BOT-2 uses a subtest and composite structure that highlights motor performance in the broad functional areas of stability, mobility, strength, coordination, and object manipulation.
Baseline,6 weeks
Children Sleep Habits Questionnaire (CSHQ)
Time Frame: Baseline,6 weeks

The Children's Sleep Habits Questionnaire (CSHQ) is one of the most commonly used assessment tools for pediatric sleep. It is used both in research and in the clinical field. The CSHQ is a 45-item questionnaire. Each question on the questionnaire is rated on a 3-point scale based on the frequency of occurrence within the past week.

Resp Sets are categorized as ''usually'' (5-7 times within the past week), ''sometimes'' (2-4 times within the past week), or ''rarely (never of 1 time within the past week). Some items on the questionnaire are reverse-scored, ensuring that higher scores consistently indicate problem behaviors. All responses are totaled to create a Total Sleep Disturbance index (range from 33 99), with a score exceeding 41 suggesting the presence of a pediatric sleep disorder.
Baseline,6 weeks

Collaborators and Investigators

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

Sponsor

Riphah International University

Investigators

  • Principal Investigator: AIZA ZAMIR, MS-PT, 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)

October 29, 2025

Primary Completion (Estimated)

February 20, 2026

Study Completion (Estimated)

February 23, 2026

Study Registration Dates

First Submitted

November 18, 2025

First Submitted That Met QC Criteria

November 18, 2025

First Posted (Actual)

November 25, 2025

Study Record Updates

Last Update Posted (Actual)

February 25, 2026

Last Update Submitted That Met QC Criteria

February 23, 2026

Last Verified

February 1, 2026

More Information

Terms related to this study

Keywords

Additional Relevant MeSH Terms

Other Study ID Numbers

  • REC/RCR&AHS/AIZAZAMIR

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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