Skip to main content
OpenTrials
Completed

NCT Number: NCT05070117

The Effect of Exercise Training on Musculoskeletal Health in Individuals With Cerebral Palsy

Cerebral palsy (CP) is a neurodevelopmental disorder and is the most common childhood disability. CP is characterized by abnormal development, impaired motor function, and muscular and skeletal abnormalities. Due to their diminished musculoskeletal function, individuals with CP suffer a high rate of moderate to severe bone fractures, which can lead to further immobility. Optimizing muscle and bone health with exercise may be important in minimizing fractures from limited mobility, and fundamental for maximizing health-related quality of life. The main purpose of this research is to investigate the effect of exercise training on musculoskeletal system in individuals with CP, with the goal of reducing the incidence of falls and fractures. To accomplish these aims, musculoskeletal health will be assessed using various physiological techniques (e.g., Dual energy X-ray Absorptiometry, Humac Norm Isokinematic System, Biodex Balance System) before, during, and after one year of exercise training in individuals with CP. In addition, various functional mobility tests to quantify fitness levels will be performed. Findings may lead to the development of novel therapeutic interventions targeted at improving musculoskeletal health in individuals with CP.

Completed

Looking for future studies?

Notify Me

Key information

Conditions

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

Age range

18 year–65 year

Sex eligibility

All sexes

Study type

Interventional

Phase

Not applicable

Primary location

San Jose State University

San Jose, California, 95192, United States

Who can participate

Healthy volunteers accepted: Yes

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

Inclusion criteria

  • those who can follow simple commands and walk independently with or without the use of an assistance apparatus (within Classification level I-III, based on Gross Motor Functioning Classification System, GMFCS) and have cerebral palsy will be included in the study. The rationale for such inclusion criteria (level I-III) is to make sure they can perform some leg exercise and tests.

Exclusion criteria

  • If subjects have a history or symptoms of cardiovascular, renal, hepatic, or respiratory diseases, they will be excluded in the study.

Treatment and study plan

Exercise Training

Behavioral

Study participants perform resistance/strength exercises 2-3 times per week for one hour, for one year.

Primary outcomes

  1. Height measurement

    Time frame: 1 minute

    Height (cm) will be measured using a standard beam scale with height rod. This anthropometric measurement is used to assess general body size. Body mass index is calculated and reported.

  2. Body composition

    Time frame: 8 minutes

    Whole body Dual energy X-ray absorptiometry (DXA) will be measured to assess overall body composition for the mass of the bone, muscle, and fat in the whole body. For those who do not complete DXA due to severe spasticity, a bioelectrical impedance technique (BIA) using 4 electrode unit Biodynamics Model 310 Body Composition Analyzer will be used to quantify fat mass, fat free mass, and water content. BIA does not use x-ray; thus, participants will not be exposed additional radiation.

  3. Muscular strength

    Time frame: 15 minutes

    Participants will perform leg press, leg curl, and leg extension at submaximal level to predict 1-Repetition Masimum using Brzycki equations. In addition, participants will perform knee extension and flexion testing using Humac Norm Isokinetic Dynamometer to measure isometric and isokinetic muscular strength in hamstrings and quadriceps.

  4. Balance and related fall risks

    Time frame: 20 minutes

    Berg Balance Scale and Biodex Balance System will be used to assess balance and related fall risks. The Berg Balance Scale is a valid and reliable tool to assess populations with gait and balance issues. By completing 14 assessments with varying multiple tasks, participants will receive a point per task to have a final score which indicate the balance and risk of fall. Biodex Balance System assesses neuromuscular control by quantifying the ability to maintain dynamic bilateral and unilateral postural stability on both static and unstable surface. These tests will provide a quantified value for fall risk screening and conditioning status.

  5. Bone mineral density

    Time frame: 8 minutes

    Bone mineral content and density using regional Dual energy X-ray absorptiometry (DXA) will be measured at regions of lumbar spine (L2-4), proximal femur at the hip joint, and forearm. T- and Z-scores of each region will be calculated to detect bone mineral density as well as the changes due to the intervention.

  6. Weight measurement

    Time frame: 1 minute

    Weight (kg) will be measured using a standard beam scale with height rod. This anthropometric measurement is used to assess general body size. Body mass index is calculated and reported.

  7. Waist and hip circumferences

    Time frame: 2 minutes

    Waist and hip circumference (cm) will be measured using a measuring tape. These anthropometric measurements are used to assess general body size.

Sponsors and collaborators

Lead sponsor

San Jose State University

Other

Registry information

Important dates

Study start
2018
Primary completion
2021
Study completion
2021
First posted
Oct 7, 2021
Registry last updated
Feb 1, 2022

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.

Related clinical trials

Published trials that share one or more normalized conditions with this study.