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NCT Number: NCT07573865

tDCS and Bi-manual Training in Cerebral Palsy

Unilateral spastic cerebral palsy (USCP) is the most common subtype of cerebral palsy and significantly limits upper limb function. Traditional therapies such as constraint-induced movement therapy (CIMT) and bimanual intensive training offer limited benefits. Pharmacologic treatments often produce behavioral side effects and do not address underlying neuro-plastic deficits. There is an unmet need for safe, effective, non-invasive interventions targeting motor recovery through cortical modulation.

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Key information

Conditions

Cerebral Palsy (CP) Brain Damage, Chronic Brain Diseases Central Nervous System Diseases Cerebral Palsy Muscle Hypertonia Muscle Spasticity Muscular Diseases Musculoskeletal Diseases Nervous System Diseases Neurologic Manifestations Neuromuscular Manifestations Pathological Conditions, Signs and Symptoms Signs and Symptoms Spastic Cerebral Palsy (sCP) Unilateral Cerebral Palsy

Age range

6 year–17 year

Sex eligibility

All sexes

Study type

Interventional

Phase

Not applicable

Primary location

Pakistan Railway Hospital

Rawalpindi, Punjab Province, Pakistan

Location contact

Mirza Obaid Baig Assistant Professor, MS

CONTACT

[email protected]

00923332238706

Mirza Obaid Baig, MSPT

PRINCIPAL_INVESTIGATOR

Who can participate

Healthy volunteers accepted: No

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

Inclusion criteria

  • Children aged 6-17 years with unilateral spastic CP
  • Wrist extension ≥ 20°, MCP/PIP joints ≥ 10°

Exclusion criteria

  • Any other neurological disorders
  • An orthopedic condition affecting the participation in UE activities.
  • Unable to understand the command.

Treatment and study plan

Anodal tDCS

Other

Anodal tDCS will be applied to the affected motor cortex area for 20 minutes along with the bimanual motor training. The intervention will be applied for 5 days in 1-2 weeks.

Sham tDCS

Other

Sham tDCS will be applied to the affected motor cortex for 20 minutes along with the bimanual motor training. The intervention will be applied for 5 days in 1-2 weeks.

Primary outcomes

  1. ABILHAND-KIDS

    Time frame: baseline, after 1 week of intervention

    ABILHAND-Kids is used to measure a child's manual ability (using their hands/arms) for daily tasks, especially for children with conditions like cerebral palsy or brachial plexus birth injury.

Secondary outcomes

  1. Box and Block test

    Time frame: Baseline, after 1 week of intervention

    The Box and Block Test (BBT) assesses gross manual dexterity in kids with Cerebral Palsy (CP) aged 6-15 by having them move as many 1-inch blocks as possible from one box side to another in 60 seconds, one block at a time, testing each hand separately

  2. Movement-related cortical potentials

    Time frame: baseline, 1 week after intervention

    Movement-related cortical potentials (MRCP) with the help of EEG: peak amplitude, onset latency, and area under the curve at Cz/C3/C4.

  3. Event-related desynchronization (ERD) / synchronization (ERS)

    Time frame: baseline, 1 week after intervention

    Event-related desynchronization (ERD) / synchronization (ERS) with the help of EEG: mu (8-13 Hz) and beta (13-30 Hz) ERD magnitude and timing during movement.

  4. Resting-state sensorimotor beta/mu power

    Time frame: baseline, 1 week after intervention

    Resting-state sensorimotor beta/mu power with the help of EEG: absolute and relative power at C3/C4 and central ROI.

  5. NIH Toolbox Cognitive and Emotional Scores

    Time frame: baseline, 1 week after intervention

    The NIH Toolbox for the Assessment of Neurological and Behavioral Function (NIH Toolbox) is a set of standardized measures used by researchers and clinicians to assess motor, cognitive, emotional, and sensory functions.

Study contacts

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

Mirza Obaid Baig Assistant Professor, MS

CONTACT

[email protected]

00923332238706

Sponsors and collaborators

Lead sponsor

Riphah International University

Other

Collaborators

  • King Fahad Specialist Hospital Dammam

Registry information

Official study title

AI-Assisted Anodal tDCS Combined With Bimanual Motor Training in Children With Unilateral Spastic Cerebral Palsy: A Pilot Feasibility Study at Riphah Hospital

Important dates

Study start
2026
Primary completion
2026
Study completion
2026
First posted
May 7, 2026
Registry last updated
May 7, 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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