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Enrolling by Invitation

NCT Number: NCT07132138

Scooter Board Activities Versus Core Stability Exercises

Children with diplegic cerebral palsy (CP) often experience impaired trunk control and balance, which limits functional mobility. Core stability exercises are commonly used in pediatric physical therapy to improve trunk control. Scooter board activities, which challenge trunk stability through dynamic movement, may offer an engaging alternative. This study aims to compare the effects of these two interventions.

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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

6 year–10 year

Sex eligibility

All sexes

Study type

Interventional

Phase

Not applicable

Primary location

Cairo University

Cairo, Cairo Governorate, 11829, Egypt

About this study

Children with spastic diplegic cerebral palsy (CP) often present with impaired trunk postural control and reduced balance stability, which negatively affect their functional independence, gait, and participation in daily activities.

Core stability training is widely recognized in pediatric rehabilitation as a method to enhance trunk strength and improve postural alignment.

Scooter board activities, however, add an element of dynamic movement, sensory stimulation, and task-oriented play, potentially offering greater engagement and functional carryover.

This study directly compares the two approaches in order to establish evidence-based guidance for clinical practice.

Who can participate

Healthy volunteers accepted: No

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

Inclusion criteria

  • CP with a diplegia
  • Age 6 to 10 years
  • Grade 1 and 2 according to the Modified Ashworth scale (RW and Smith, 1987).
  • They could walk with limitation or holding on according to GMFCS (level I&II &III) (Palisano et al., 1997).
  • They were able to understand and follow verbal instructions

Exclusion criteria

  • Children with any surgical interference in the upper limb.
  • intellectual disability such that simple tasks could not be understood or executed.
  • Children with any visual or auditory problems.
  • Children with any surgical interference in the lower limb.
  • Children with any structural deformities in joints and bones of lower limbs.
  • Children who suffer from other diseases or associated disorders that interfered with physical activity

Treatment and study plan

Scooter Board Activities

Other

Scooter board bear walk. Scooter board crab walk. Sitting on scooter board, use it to move forward and backward, move the pool rings from one end to another.

Cross sitting on scooter board, pulls along the rope using his/her hands Sit with knees pulled into the chest (like a bug pose) and move around with arms only.

Prone over scooter board, pulling rope to move forward. Pull self along an anchored rope to retrieve items Scooter rolls outs. Place knees on floor and hands holding the edge of the front scooter board. Push board out a few inches then pull back, the further you roll, the harder it gets.

8- Kneeling, Push self forward and backward with the use of a therapy ball (lots of Motor Planning).

Supine flexion on scooter board, Clip clothespins to a rope hanging above.

Other names: Physical therapy program

Core Stability Exercises

Other

Bridges Bird-dog Sit-ups on therapy ball Static and dynamic trunk holds

Other names: Physical therapy program

Primary outcomes

  1. Trunk Control Measurement Scale (TCMS)

    Time frame: before and after 3 months of intervention

    The TCMS is a standardized observational assessment tool designed to evaluate static and dynamic trunk control in children with cerebral palsy (CP) during functional sitting tasks. It is particularly useful for detecting trunk impairments that affect balance, postural adjustments, and functional mobility.

    Scoring System

    Each item is scored 0-2:

    0 = Unable to perform or requires arm support/trunk compensation

    • = Performs partially or with minimal compensations
    • = Performs fully without compensations

    Total Score Range: 0-58

    Higher scores indicate better trunk control.

Secondary outcomes

  1. Pediatric Balance Scale (PBS)

    Time frame: before and after 3 months of intervention

    The Pediatric Balance Scale is an adaptation of the Berg Balance Scale (BBS) specifically designed to assess functional balance in children. It evaluates both static and dynamic balance during everyday activities and is suitable for children with mild to moderate motor impairments, including those with cerebral palsy.

    Scoring System

    Each item scored on a 5-point ordinal scale (0-4):

    0 = Unable to perform

    • = Needs maximal assistance or unable to complete safely
    • = Needs moderate assistance or significant compensation
    • = Performs independently but with mild instability or slowness
    • = Performs independently and safely

    Total Score Range: 0-56

    Higher scores indicate better balance performance.

Sponsors and collaborators

Lead sponsor

Badr University

Other

Registry information

Official study title

Scooter Board Activities Versus Core Stability Exercises on Enhancing Trunk Postural Control and Balance in Children With Diplegic Cerebral Palsy: A Randomized Comparative Trial

Acronym: CP

Important dates

Study start
2025
Primary completion
2025
Study completion
2026
First posted
Aug 20, 2025
Registry last updated
Sep 22, 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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