Task-oriented Training Versus Group Circuit Training in Children With Quadriplegic Cerebral Palsy

Task-oriented Training Versus Group Circuit Training in Children With Quadriplegic Cerebral

Cerebral palsy is a common neurodevelopmental disorder that affects movement, posture, and functional abilities in children. This randomized controlled trial focuses on comparing the effects of task-oriented circuit training and group circuit training on functional performance and functional capacity in children with quadriplegic cerebral palsy. Outcomes will be measured using the Gross Motor Function Measure (GMFM-88) and the Activities Scale for Kids-Capability version (ASK-C). The findings of this study may help identify effective rehabilitation strategies for improving functional outcomes in children with cerebral palsy.

Study Overview

• Status: Not yet recruiting
• Conditions: Quadriplegic Cerebral Palsy
• Intervention / Treatment: Other: Task-Oriented Circuit Training; Other: Group Circuit Training

Detailed Description

Cerebral palsy (CP) is a non-progressive neurological disorder characterized by impairments in movement, posture, and functional abilities, significantly limiting a child's participation in daily activities. Children with quadriplegic cerebral palsy experience greater functional limitations, particularly in gross motor performance and functional capacity, necessitating effective and structured rehabilitation interventions.

Task-oriented training and circuit training are commonly used therapeutic approaches in pediatric neurorehabilitation. Task-oriented training focuses on practicing meaningful, goal-directed functional tasks to enhance motor learning and functional performance whereas group circuit training emphasizes repetitive, structured exercises performed in a circuit format to improve strength, endurance, and motor skills. However, limited evidence exists comparing the effectiveness of these two approaches specifically in children with quadriplegic cerebral palsy.

This randomized controlled trial aims to compare the effects of task-oriented circuit training and group circuit training on functional performance and functional capacity in children with quadriplegic cerebral palsy. Eligible participants will be randomly allocated into two intervention groups. One group will receive task-oriented circuit training combined with conventional physical therapy, while the other group will receive group circuit training along with conventional physical therapy.

Functional performance will be assessed using the Gross Motor Function Measure-88 (GMFM-88), and functional capacity will be evaluated using the Activities Scale for Kids-Capability version (ASK-C). Assessments will be conducted at baseline (pre-intervention) and after completion of the intervention period (post-intervention).

The results of this study are expected to provide evidence regarding the comparative effectiveness of task-oriented circuit training and group circuit training, thereby assisting clinicians in selecting appropriate rehabilitation strategies to improve functional outcomes in children with quadriplegic cerebral palsy.

• Study Type: Interventional
• Enrollment (Estimated): 36
• Phase: Not Applicable

Contacts and Locations

• Study Contact: Name: Noor Fatima, MSPT Neurology; Phone Number: 03026699547; Email: 70076588@student.uol.edu.pk
• Study Contact Backup: Name: Dr. Wardah Rauf Physiotherapist, DPT, MSPT-N; Email: noor_fatima28@outlook.com

Participation Criteria

Eligibility Criteria

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

Description

Inclusion Criteria:

• Children diagnosed with spastic quadriplegic cerebral palsy.
• Age between 7 and 12 years.
• Gross Motor Function Classification System (GMFCS) level II or III.
• Both genders.
• Lower limb spasticity graded between 1 and 1+ on the Modified Ashworth Scale.
• Ability to understand and follow simple instructions.
• No serious or recurrent medical complications.

Exclusion Criteria:

• Presence of fixed orthopedic deformities affecting balance or movement.
• Visual, auditory, vestibular, or perceptual deficits.
• History of seizures or epilepsy.
• Orthopedic surgery or botulinum toxin injections within the past 6 months.
• Participation in other structured rehabilitation programs during the study period.
• Presence of neuromuscular disorders other than cerebral palsy.

Study Plan

How is the study designed?

Design Details

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

Number of Arms

2

Arms and Interventions

Participant Group / Arm	Intervention / Treatment
Experimental: Task-Oriented Circuit Training Group; Participants in this group will receive task-oriented circuit training combined with conventional physical therapy.	Other: Task-Oriented Circuit Training; Task-oriented circuit training will include goal directed functional tasks such as sit-to-stand activities, balance tasks, walking-related activities, and functional mobility tasks arranged in a circuit format. The intervention will focus on improving functional performance through repetitive practice of meaningful tasks.
Active Comparator: Group Circuit Training Group; Participants in this group will receive a combination of group circuit training and conventional physical therapy.	Other: Group Circuit Training; Group circuit training will consist of structured exercise stations that focus on strength, balance, endurance, and gross motor activities, all performed in a group setting. Exercises will be performed in a circuit format under therapist supervision.

What is the study measuring?

Primary Outcome Measures

Outcome Measure	Measure Description	Time Frame
Functional Performance	Functional performance will be assessed using the Gross Motor Function Measure-88 (GMFM-88), which evaluates gross motor abilities across five dimensions (lying/rolling, sitting, crawling/kneeling, standing, walking/running). Ordinal scale 0-3 (0=does not initiate, 3=completes), resulting in a percentage score (0-100%) for each dimension and total score.	From baseline to the end of treatment at 16 weeks
Functional Capacity	Functional capacity will be measured using the Activities Scale for Kids-Capability version (ASK-C), a validated questionnaire assessing a child's ability to perform daily activities. This scale consists of 30 items, each rated on a 5-point ordinal scale. 0= with no problem; with a little problem; with a moderate problem; with a big problem; I could not The final score ranges from 0 to 100, with a higher score indicating better functional outcomes	From baseline to the end of treatment at 16 weeks

Collaborators and Investigators

• Sponsor: University of Lahore
• Investigators: Principal Investigator: Noor Fatima, MSPT- Neurology, University of Lahore

Study record dates

Study Major Dates

• Study Start (Estimated): March 1, 2026
• Primary Completion (Estimated): August 1, 2026
• Study Completion (Estimated): September 1, 2026

Study Registration Dates

• First Submitted: December 21, 2025
• First Submitted That Met QC Criteria: February 11, 2026
• First Posted (Actual): February 19, 2026

Study Record Updates

• Last Update Posted (Actual): February 19, 2026
• Last Update Submitted That Met QC Criteria: February 11, 2026
• Last Verified: December 1, 2025

More Information

Terms related to this study

• Other Study ID Numbers: UOL/IREB/25/15/03/31

Plan for Individual participant data (IPD)

• Plan to Share Individual Participant Data (IPD)?: NO
• IPD Plan Description: Individual participant data will not be shared to protect participant confidentiality and because the data are collected as part of an academic research thesis.

Drug and device information, study documents

• Studies a U.S. FDA-regulated drug product: No
• Studies a U.S. FDA-regulated device product: No