Clinical trial NCT03818152: Reliability and Validity of Strength Measurements of the Lower Limbs in Children With Bilateral Spastic Cerebral Palsy.
Official title: Reliability and Validity of Strength Measurements of the Lower Limbs in Children With Bilateral Spastic Cerebral Palsy.
Study type: INTERVENTIONAL
Overall status: COMPLETED
Phase: NA
Conditions: Children
Cerebral Palsy
Muscle Weakness
Keywords: Cerebral palsy
Children
Functional strength measurement
Lower limbs
Reproducability
Lead sponsor: University Ghent
Sponsor class: OTHER
First posted: 2019-01-28
Enrollment: 24
Sex: ALL
Minimum age (years): 6
Maximum age (years): 18
Standard ages: CHILD
ADULT
Accepts healthy volunteers: no
Allocation: NA
Intervention model: SINGLE_GROUP
Primary purpose: TREATMENT

Brief summary: Specific musculo-tendinous adaptations in children with cerebral palsy (CP) have an influence on muscle strength and consequently on functional behavior and participation. Evidence of strength training programs has been shown on level of body function but transfer to levels of activity and participation is still limited. Lack of transfer is related to lack of specificity of the training and poor overall quality of the interventions (intensity, duration, frequency and/or type).

The use of functional strength exercises to assess and train strength of the lower limbs in children with CP is well implemented in the most functional children with CP (GMFCS-level I). To assess isometric strength the hand held dynamometer (HHD) can be used in clinical settings but reliability of this tool is questionable.

The aim of this study is to adapt existing functional strength tests for less functional children with CP (focussing on GMFCS level II and III) and to investigate the correlation with isometric strength measurements and other functional parameters.

Detailed description: Specific musculo-tendinous adaptations in children with cerebral palsy (CP) have an influence on muscle strength and consequently on functional behavior and participation. Evidence of strength training programs has been shown on level of body function but transfer to levels of activity and participation is still limited. Lack of transfer is related to lack of specificity of the training and poor overall quality of the interventions (intensity, duration, frequency and/or type).

The use of functional strength exercises to assess and train strength of the lower limbs in children with CP is well implemented in the most functional children with CP (GMFCS-level I).

The aim of this study is to adapt existing functional strength tests for less functional children with CP (focussing on GMFCS-level II and III) and to investigate the correlation with isometric strength measurements and other functional parameters.

Eligibility criteria: Inclusion Criteria:

* Bilateral spastic CP
* GMFCS II-III
* 6-18 Y
* No botox until 4 months before testing
* No orthopedic surgery until 1 Y before testing
* Good cooperation

Primary outcomes:
measure: Functional testing
timeFrame: 60 minutes
Secondary outcomes:
measure: Isometric strength test
timeFrame: 60 minutes
measure: Core stability test
timeFrame: 30 minutes
measure: Gait capacity
timeFrame: 1 minute
measure: Gait capacity
timeFrame: 5 minutes
Other outcomes:
Locations:
city: Gent
country: Belgium
facility: Ghent University
Study officials:
References: