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Completed

NCT Number: NCT05655572

Comparison Between AOT and Functional Training on Balance, Mobility and Cognition in Diplegic Cerebral Palsy

The aim of the study is to find out the effects of Action observation therapy as compared to the traditional physiotherapy in diplegic spastic cerebral palsy patients. We will check the effects on balance mobility and cognition of patients.

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Key information

Conditions

Diplegic Cerebral Palsy Brain Damage, Chronic Brain Diseases Central Nervous System Diseases Cerebral Palsy Nervous System Diseases

Age range

5 year–11 year

Sex eligibility

All sexes

Study type

Interventional

Phase

Not applicable

Primary location

Saidu Group of Teaching Hospital Swat

Swāt, Khyberpakhtunkhuwa, 25000, Pakistan

About this study

A study conducted in 2020 on diplegic CP patients. The action observation training group repeatedly practiced the action with their motor skills, while the control group practiced conventional physical therapy. Results suggest that action observation training is both feasible and beneficial for improving spasticity, gross motor function, and balance in children with spastic diplegia cerebral palsy.

One of the researcher evaluated the evidence of using Action Observation Therapy in the rehabilitation of children with Cerebral Palsy. It was Systematic review with meta-analysis. No evidence of benefit had been found to draw a firm conclusion regarding the effectiveness of action observation therapy in the rehabilitation of children with cerebral palsy due to limitations in methodological quality and variations between studies.

Some also, investigated the effects of VR-based intervention by means of active videogame on self-concept, balance, motor performance and adaptive success in children with CP. They concluded that VR-based intervention might interfere with the way children with CP perceive themselves, apart from improve their balance, motor performance and adaptive success. Thus VR-based intervention is a potential tool to assist rehabilitation professionals to improve these aspects of children's health condition.

Similarly, A study concluded that Action observation therapy is beneficial in rehabilitation of neurological and musculoskeletal conditions. A study concluded that action observation along with gait training provides greater benefits for gait and cognitive performance in elderly with MCI. According to a scientist action observation therapy is effective and feasible for functional mobility in rehabilitation processes. A researcher in his study action observation therapy is more effective in improving upper limb movements and functions.

There are various studies on movement observation training but most of them are related to restoring the upper limb function of stroke and cerebral palsy patients, and studies on the mobility, cognition, and balance in cerebral palsy for movement observation training are sparse so this study will contribute in examining improvements in rehabilitation of children with diplegic cerebral palsy by demonstrating the effects of action observation training and conventional therapy for the treatment of mobility, cognition, and balance.

Who can participate

Healthy volunteers accepted: No

Only the study team can determine whether someone qualifies for participation.

Inclusion criteria

  • Diagnosed Diaplegic Spastic CP between the age of 5 to 11 years.
  • Able to follow the researcher's instruction.
  • GMFCS (gross motor function classification system) level I-III
  • Children with a modified ashworth scale (MAS) of ≤ 3.

Exclusion criteria

  • Unable to walk
  • Children with severe co-morbidities like musculoskeletal deformities, spina bifida and other types of Cerebral Palsy.
  • With visual impairment and visual field defects

Treatment and study plan

Action Observation Theraoy

Other

After initial baseline assessment patients allocated in AOT group will undergo treatment protocol of 6 weeks having 4 stages of duration 1.5 weeks each performed 3 days per week. . Assessment will be perform at baseline after 2, 4 and 6 weeks

Functional Training

Other

after baseline assessment participants including in this group will perform the tasks for 6 weeks (3 days per week) s and after that again assessment will be made for examining the improvements.Assessment will be perform at baseline after 2 ,4 and 6 weeks

Primary outcomes

  1. Gross motor function measure

    Time frame: 6 weeks

    Changes form the baseline Gross Motor Function measure (GMFM) is the valid and standard observational instrument to measure change in gross motor function in CP children. It consists of 66 items with 5 dimensions. These dimensions are the major motor functions i.e. supine/rolling, sitting, crawling/kneeling, standing and walking/running/jumping. Each task is rated according to the scoring guidelines i.e. higher score indicated better gross motor function. Each GMFM item is graded on 4-point scale i.e. 0 for unable to initiate the task, 1 for able to initiate the task, 2 for able to perform the task partially and 3 for able to perform the task completely

  2. Pediatric Balance Scale (PBS)

    Time frame: 6 weeks

    Changes from the baseline Pediatric Balance Scale (PBS) is a modified form of Berg Balance Scale (BSS) which was developed for balance measurement in CP child. It can be performed without specialized equipment and can be easily administered. It including 14 items with 5-level grading to assess the functional activities that child must safely and independently form at home, community, activities including sitting balance, sit to stand/stand to sit, transfer, stepping, reaching forward, reaching to floor, turning and stepping on and off at elevated surface. Each activity is rated according to scale from 0 to 4 i.e. 0 for unable to perform and 4 for able to perform without difficulty.

  3. Timed 10 meter walk test

    Time frame: 6 weeks

    Changes from baseline Timed 10 meter walk test was used to measure the gait ability and speed. The acceleration area 2.5m and deceleration area 2.5m were marked on the ground as start and end point for the test. Participants were asked to walk for 15 minutes on comfortable flat floor at a comfortable speed and then record the walking speed through stopwatch over 10 m between these point

  4. Mini-mental state pediatric examination (MMSPE)

    Time frame: 6 weeks

    Changes from baseline Mini-mental state pediatric examination (MMSPE) is a cognitive screening task and scoring system for 3 to 14 years old child. It represented 11 questions involving five basic cognitive abilities i.e. attention-concentration, orientation, registration, recall and language and constructive ability. (22) The possible score range is from 0 to 37, from which 17 or lower score indicating as moderate to severe cognitive impairment of children.

Sponsors and collaborators

Lead sponsor

Riphah International University

Other

Registry information

Official study title

Comparison Between Action Observation Therapy and Functional Training on Balance, Mobility and Cognition in Diplegic Cerebral Palsy

Important dates

Study start
2022
Primary completion
2023
Study completion
2023
First posted
Dec 19, 2022
Registry last updated
Nov 24, 2025

OpenTrials presents study information sourced from ClinicalTrials.gov. The official registry record should be consulted for the latest information.

View the official ClinicalTrials.gov record (opens in a new tab)

This listing is for discovery and informational purposes only. It is not medical advice, does not guarantee that a study is recruiting, and does not determine eligibility. Contact the study team and a qualified healthcare professional when considering participation.

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