Ultrasound or Whole Body Vibration on Knee Motion and Function in CP

January 19, 2026 updated by: Mostafa S Ali, Cairo University

Comparative Study of Therapeutic Ultrasound and Whole-body Vibration as Adjuncts to Passive Stretching on Knee Joint Range of Motion and Functional Ability in Children With Hemiplegic Cerebral Palsy.

This study compared the efficacy of therapeutic ultrasound (US) and whole-body vibration (WBV) as adjuncts to a standardized passive stretching regimen on improving knee joint range of motion (ROM) and functional capacity in children with hemiplegic cerebral palsy (HCP).

Study Overview

Status

Completed

Conditions

Intervention / Treatment

Detailed Description

Sixty children with HCP, aged 4-6 years, were randomly assigned to one of two groups. Both groups received passive stretching of the hamstrings and plantar flexors three times per week for twelve weeks. The control group (US group) received therapeutic ultrasound prior to stretching, while the research group (WBV group) performed exercises on a vibrating platform before stretching. Active knee extension ROM was measured with a digital goniometer, and functional ability was assessed using the Gross Motor Function Measure-88 (GMFM-88) at baseline and post-intervention.

Study Type

Interventional

Enrollment (Actual)

60

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 Locations

  • Egypt
      • Cairo, Egypt, 11432
        • Cairo university

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:

  • age from 4-6 years
  • knee flexion deformity due to hamstring tightness
  • Gross Motor Function Classification System (GMFCS) levels I or II
  • spasticity grade of 1 or 2 on the modified Ashworth Scale

Exclusion Criteria:

  • other causes of knee flexion deformity
  • previous orthopedic knee surgery
  • significant visual, auditory, or perceptual deficits
  • uncontrolled seizures; or acute illness

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: Single

Arms and Interventions

Participant Group / Arm
Intervention / Treatment
Experimental: ultrasound group
received therapeutic ultrasound prior to stretching
Device: ultrasound
Received continuous ultrasound (1 MHz, 1.0 W/cm², 5 min per hamstring) using a Chattanooga Intelect Mobile 2 unit with a medium-sized transducer head and coupling gel
Experimental: whole body vibration group
performed exercises on a vibrating platform before stretching
Device: whole body vibration
Performed exercises on a Power Plate Pro 5 vibration platform. Parameters were set to a frequency of 20 Hz and a fixed amplitude of 2 mm (peak-to-peak displacement). The child maintained a semi-squat posture (approximately 30 knee flexion) for two 5-minute bouts separated by a 1-minute rest.

What is the study measuring?

Primary Outcome Measures

Outcome Measure
Measure Description
Time Frame
Active Knee Extension Range of Motion (ROM)
Time Frame: 12 weeks
Measured using an Absolute + Axis™ Digital Goniometer. With the child supine and pelvis stabilized, the goniometer axis was aligned with the lateral femoral condyle. The stationary arm was aligned with the greater trochanter, and the moving arm with the lateral malleolus. The child was instructed to actively extend the knee as far as possible, and the angle was recorded. Three measurements were taken, and the average was used for analysis
12 weeks
2. Gross Motor Function
Time Frame: 12 weeks

Assessed using the Gross Motor Function Measure-88 (GMFM-88), a validated observational tool for children with CP. A blinded assessor, not involved in the intervention, scored the children's performance. The Gross Motor Functional Measurement-88 used to measure function. The GMFM is a standardized observational instrument designed and validated to measure change in gross motor function over time in children with cerebral palsy. The scoring key is meant to be a general guideline. However, most of the items have specific descriptors for each score. It is imperative that the guidelines

contained in the manual be used for scoring each item.

SCORING KEY 0 = does not initiate

  1. = initiates
  2. = partially completes
  3. = completes
12 weeks

Collaborators and Investigators

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

Sponsor

Cairo University

Investigators

  • Principal Investigator: mostafa S ali, PhD, associate professor for pediatrics

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)

March 6, 2025

Primary Completion (Actual)

April 30, 2025

Study Completion (Actual)

August 12, 2025

Study Registration Dates

First Submitted

January 10, 2026

First Submitted That Met QC Criteria

January 10, 2026

First Posted (Actual)

January 20, 2026

Study Record Updates

Last Update Posted (Actual)

January 21, 2026

Last Update Submitted That Met QC Criteria

January 19, 2026

Last Verified

January 1, 2026

More Information

Terms related to this study

Keywords

Additional Relevant MeSH Terms

Other Study ID Numbers

  • P.T.REC/012/006029

Plan for Individual participant data (IPD)

Plan to Share Individual Participant Data (IPD)?

UNDECIDED

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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