TheraTogs Effects on Balance and Mobility in Cerebral Palsy

May 30, 2026 updated by: Marina Karachanidi, University of West Attica

The Effect of the Dynamic Orthotic Garment TheraTogs on Balance and Functional Mobility of Children and Adolescent With Cerebral Palsy: A Cross-Sectional Clinical Study

Cerebral Palsy (CP) is the most common cause of childhood disability, with an estimated prevalence of 17 million individuals worldwide. Children and adolescents with CP present impaired postural control and balance, negatively affecting their mobility and functional performance. The use of dynamic orthotic garments may contribute to the improvement of postural control, balance, and functional mobility in children and adolescents with CP.

The aim of the present study is to investigate the immediate effect of the dynamic orthotic garment TheraTogs on balance and functional mobility in children and adolescents with CP.

In this cross-sectional pilot study, children and adolescents with CP classified as levels I and II according to the Gross Motor Function Classification System (GMFCS), and with spasticity levels lower than +1 according to the Modified Ashworth Scale, will participate. Balance will be assessed using the Pediatric Balance Scale (PBS), while functional mobility will be evaluated with the Timed Up and Go (TUG) test and the 10 Meter Walk Test (10MWT). Each assessment will be performed twice by each participant, with and without the TheraTogs dynamic orthotic garment, in random order. Statistical analysis will be conducted using SPSS Statistics V29 software, with the level of significance set at p < 0.05.

Study Overview

Status

Not yet recruiting

Intervention / Treatment

Study Type

Interventional

Enrollment (Estimated)

12

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

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

  • Diagnosis of unilateral or bilateral spastic Cerebral Palsy
  • GMFCS level I or II
  • MAS level lower than +1
  • Ability to understand and follow instructions
  • Ability to walk without assistive devices

Exclusion Criteria

  • Use of medications affecting balance
  • Hearing or visual impairments
  • Intellectual disability
  • Botulinum toxin (Botox) injection in the lower limbs within the previous 6 months
  • Severe musculoskeletal deformities
  • Surgery within the previous 6 months
  • Uncontrolled seizures during the previous 6 months

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: Crossover Assignment
  • Masking: None (Open Label)

Arms and Interventions

Participant Group / Arm
Intervention / Treatment
Experimental: NO GARMENT FIRST, THEN GARMENT
Participants will perform three balance and functional mobility assessments, including the Pediatric Balance Scale, Timed Up and Go Test, and 10-Second Sit-to-Stand Test. Following the initial assessment, participants will wear the orthotic garment and repeat the same assessments.
Theratogs is a dynamic orthotic garment, made of a "breathable", lightweight, self-adhesive Velcro fabric. It provides a gentle passive force for correcting imbalances or alignments through a combined system of the trunk and lower limbs, along with a system of customized external straps. It is worn over the skin under clothing or over a diaper. The patented soft foam material gently grips the user's soft tissues to create biomechanical changes that are essential for positive outcomes. A variety of lengths, back sizes, stiffness diameters, and placement options optimize the therapeutic and orthotic effects.
Experimental: GARMENT FIRST, THEN NO GARMENT
Participants will initially perform the balance and functional mobility assessments while wearing the orthotic garment. After removal of the garment, the Pediatric Balance Scale, Timed Up and Go Test, and 10-Second Sit-to-Stand Test will be repeated under the same conditions.
Theratogs is a dynamic orthotic garment, made of a "breathable", lightweight, self-adhesive Velcro fabric. It provides a gentle passive force for correcting imbalances or alignments through a combined system of the trunk and lower limbs, along with a system of customized external straps. It is worn over the skin under clothing or over a diaper. The patented soft foam material gently grips the user's soft tissues to create biomechanical changes that are essential for positive outcomes. A variety of lengths, back sizes, stiffness diameters, and placement options optimize the therapeutic and orthotic effects.

What is the study measuring?

Primary Outcome Measures

Outcome Measure
Measure Description
Time Frame
TIMED UP AND GO TEST
Time Frame: 1 HOUR
The Timed Up and Go (TUG) test evaluates functional mobility. The test requires a chair with armrests and back support, a measuring tape, adhesive tape, and a stopwatch. The time required for the participant to stand up from the chair, walk a distance of three meters (with or without assistive devices), turn around, return, and sit down again is recorded. The TUG test is considered a valid and highly reliable tool (ICC = 0.99) for evaluating functional mobility in children with CP.
1 HOUR
10 Meter Walk Test (10MWT)
Time Frame: 1 HOUR
The 10 Meter Walk Test (10MWT) evaluates functional mobility by measuring walking speed. Participants walk at their normal pace along a 14-meter walkway with or without assistive devices. A stopwatch is used to record the time required to complete a 10-meter distance, excluding the first and last two meters to allow for acceleration and deceleration. The test demonstrates high test-retest reliability and high correlation with gross motor function in children with CP.
1 HOUR
Pediatric Balance Scale (PBS)
Time Frame: 1 HOUR
The Pediatric Balance Scale (PBS) is a modified version of the Berg Balance Scale designed to assess functional balance skills in children with mild to moderate motor impairments. The scale consists of 14 balance-related items scored from 0 (lowest function) to 4 (highest function), with a maximum score of 56 and a minimum score of 0 . The PBS has been translated into Greek and is considered a reliable and valid tool for assessing functional balance in children with CP.
1 HOUR

Collaborators and Investigators

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

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 (Estimated)

June 1, 2026

Primary Completion (Estimated)

June 1, 2026

Study Completion (Estimated)

June 1, 2026

Study Registration Dates

First Submitted

May 24, 2026

First Submitted That Met QC Criteria

May 24, 2026

First Posted (Actual)

June 1, 2026

Study Record Updates

Last Update Posted (Actual)

June 2, 2026

Last Update Submitted That Met QC Criteria

May 30, 2026

Last Verified

May 1, 2026

More Information

Terms related to this study

Other Study ID Numbers

  • 30253-12/03/2026 (Other Identifier: IRB PROTOCOL NUMBER)

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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