Ability and quality of life for Children with CErebral Palsy Trial v1
Research type
Research Study
Full title
Does a ten-week physiotherapy programme, using interactive exercise equipment, improve balance in ambulant children with cerebral palsy aged 4-18 years when compared to usual care? : A multi-centre feasibility RCT with an embedded qualitative study
IRAS ID
269948
Contact name
Rachel Rapson
Contact email
Sponsor organisation
University of Plymouth
ISRCTN Number
ISRCTN80878394
Duration of Study in the UK
2 years, 6 months, 29 days
Research summary
Children with cerebral palsy (CP) frequently have difficulties walking. Home exercise programmes are designed to help but children often do not want to do these exercises. When a child’s muscles get stiff and tight they may need costly and burdensome surgery to lengthen the muscles. Where there are several problems that affect movement, it can be difficult for physiotherapists to develop effective home-based treatments.\n\nA novel piece of equipment, similar to a cross-trainer, has been developed that allows the child to do therapy by playing motivating computer games, using their leg movement. The device supports the child in a standing position, while they work on improving standing posture, balance, strength and mobility in a fun and motivating way. \n\nIt is important to demonstrate greater effectiveness of new treatments and this study will determine the feasibility of carrying out this research. \n\nForty children with CP, who are able to walk, will be recruited through their physiotherapists and other networks. They will be allocated at random twenty children will use the interactive trainer and twenty children will have usual care. The interactive trainer will be based at either home, local school or physiotherapy department and will be set up to the individual child’s training needs by their physiotherapist. Children will be asked to train 3 times per week for 10 weeks, helped by their physiotherapy or teaching assistant. The ‘usual care’ group will undertake home-based exercises. \n\nChildren will be assessed at the beginning of the study, after ten weeks of therapy, and three months after finishing the training. Measures will include walking and balance ability, and other factors such as strength and overall satisfaction. Finally, a small group of participants’ will be interviewed to find their experiences of the intervention and the trial. \n
REC name
North of Scotland Research Ethics Committee 1
REC reference
20/NS/0018
Date of REC Opinion
3 Feb 2020
REC opinion
Favourable Opinion