Strength Training Combined With Blood Flow Restriction and Cerebral Palsy

load resistance exercises are performed while partially restricting venous blood flow to the exercising limb using a pneumatic cuff. In children with hemiplegic cerebral palsy, this intervention has been proposed to enhance muscle strength and hypertrophy while minimizing mechanical stress on joints and soft tissues. Previous studies suggest that BFR training may improve muscle thickness, muscle strength, functional mobility, gait performance, and overall physical function compared with conventional low-intensity strength training alone. However, careful monitoring of cuff pressure, exercise intensity, and safety considerations is essential when applying this technique in pediatric populations.

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Key information

Conditions

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

Age range

4 year–10 year

Sex eligibility

All sexes

Study type

Interventional

Phase

Not applicable

Who can participate

Healthy volunteers accepted: No

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

Inclusion criteria

A diagnosis of spastic hemiplegic CP
Degree of spasticity ranges from 1+ and 2, according to modified Ashworth scale (MAS)
The age of the selected children will range from 4 to 6 years old.
Children are levels II and III according to GMFCS

Exclusion criteria

1- Children with visual or auditory problems. 2. Children with severe intellectual disability (IQ less than 65 according to Stanford Binet intelligence scale).

Treatment and study plan

strength training combined with blood flow restriction and designed physical therapy program

Other

A specially designed physical therapy program in addition to progressive resistive exercises for 60 min (30 min designed P.T program and other 30 min for progressive resistive exercise with blood flow restriction ), 3 sessions/ week for 6 successive weeks. strengthening exercise for shoulder flexors, abductors and external rotators, elbow flexors and extensors will be applied with low load while blood flow restriction is applied proximal to the limb

a specially designed physical therapy program

Other

conventional physical therapy program including reinforcement of the normal motor development, reflex inhibiting patterns, postural reaction, stretching, strengthening exercises, and gait training was applied to children in the control group

Primary outcomes

ultrasonography for measuring muscle thickness

Time frame: 6 weeks
quality of upper-extremity skills test for measuring upper limb function

Time frame: 6 weeks

Study contacts

Contact information is provided by the study sponsor or research team.

Alaa Alnemr

CONTACT

[email protected]

+201003727467

Sponsors and collaborators

Lead sponsor

Cairo University

Other

Registry information

Official study title

Effect of Strength Training Combined With Blood Flow Restriction on Deltoid Muscle Thickness and Upper Limb Functions in Children With Hemiplegic Cerebral Palsy

Important dates

Study start: 2026
Primary completion: 2027
Study completion: 2027
First posted: Aug 5, 2026
Registry last updated: Aug 5, 2026

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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