Effects of Swiss Ball vs Frenkle Exercises on Static and Dynamic Balance in Ataxic CP

Official title

Effects of Swiss Ball vs Frenkle Exercises on Static and Dynamic Balance in Ataxic Children With Cerebral Palsy

Overview

Several studies have highlighted the significant impact of cerebral palsy, a prevailing neurological and musculoskeletal developmental disorder among childhood disabilities worldwide. Within the spectrum of cerebral palsy, ataxic CP stands as the least prevalent type, accounting for 5 to 10% of all cases. Individuals diagnosed with ataxic CP encounter difficulties in fine motor skills, precision, and coordination, and exhibit an unsteady gait, some of which are linked to compromised postural control and inadequate core stability. These issues culminate in functional limitations, heightening the risk of falls, and further contributing to the overall disability experienced by the patients. Consequently, there exists a need to prioritize research and develop targeted treatment protocols specifically for ataxic CP. It is crucial to emphasize the enhancement of postural control and coordination, with particular emphasis on improving static and dynamic balance during rehabilitation. Implementing Swiss ball exercises and Frenkel exercises in the rehabilitation protocol for children with ataxic cerebral palsy can significantly diversify treatment strategies. These exercises play a pivotal role in supporting these children to either sustain or regain their ability to function independently, reduce the risk of falls, and notably improve their overall well-being.

Detailed description

A four-week randomized clinical trial will involve 18 participants, divided randomly into two intervention groups, with nine participants in each group. Group A (intervention group 1) will participate in Swiss ball exercises combined with stretching, while Group B (intervention group 2) will partake in Frenkel exercises along with stretching. The sampling method employed will be a non-probability technique. The Pediatric Balance Scale (PBS) will serve as the primary tool for outcome measurement. Randomization will be conducted using computer-generated software. The study design will be single-blinded, ensuring the assessor remains unaware of the groups\' assignments. Initial data collection (pretest) will occur at week 0, followed by post-test data collection at week 4. For intergroup analysis, if the data follows a normal distribution, the parametric Independent t-test will be utilized, enabling the calculation of mean, standard deviation, and p-values. Alternatively, if the data does not display a normal distribution, the non-parametric Mann-Whitney test will be employed, allowing the calculation of median, interquartile ranges, and p-values.

Interventions

• Other Effects of Swiss Ball exercises
  Effects of Swiss ball exercises along with stretching as baseline treatment. 1. Stretching of hamstrings, calf, and quads for 10 seconds hold 5 times. 2. Swiss ball exercises. a.Sitting on the Swiss ball with the trunk straight, arms by the sides, and eyes opened progressed towards eyes closed for 10 seconds, then rest. b.Sitting on the Swiss ball with trunk straight and arm by the sides. The therapist would assist the patient to engage the patient in shifting the body's weight to one side and
• Other EFFECTS OF FRENKEL EXERCISES ON STATIC AND DYNAMIC BALANCE IN ATAXIC CHILDREN WITH CEREBRAL PALSY
  Frenkel Exercises along with stretching as baseline treatment. The second intervention group would participate in Frenkel Exercises along with stretching as baseline treatment. The exercises would be performed 3 times per week for four weeks. 1. Stretching of hamstrings, calf, and quads for 10 seconds hold 5 times. (11) a. Calf stretching. b. Hamstring stretches. c. Quads stretching 2. Frenkel\'s lower limb exercises are the exercises listed below. The time of each session was set to be

Primary outcome measures

• Pediatric balance scale(PBS) [Time frame: 15 to 20 minutes]

Eligibility criteria

Inclusion criteria

• Patients with having diagnosis of ataxic cerebral palsy
• Age between 5 to 8 years.
• GMFC level 2.
• Both the genders were included

Exclusion criteria

• Visual Impairments and hearing loss
• Mental retardation
• Fixed contractures or deformities of the spine or extremities
• Meningitis

Criteria are shown verbatim from the registry (in English). Final eligibility is always assessed by the study center.

Healthy volunteers: No

Study design

Allocation

Randomized

Model

Parallel assignment

Masking

Single blind

Primary purpose

Treatment

Study locations

Pakistan · 1 center

• Riphah international university — Lahore

Publications

• Pouliot-Laforte A, Parent A, Hamdy R, Marois P, Lemay M, Ballaz L. Relationship between lower limb strength and walking capacities in children with spastic bilateral cerebral palsy. Disabil Rehabil. 2022 May;44(10):1916-1922. doi: 10.1080/09638288.2020.1813819. Epub 2020 Sep 9. PMID 32905745
• Elshafey MA, Abdrabo MS, Elnaggar RK. Effects of a core stability exercise program on balance and coordination in children with cerebellar ataxic cerebral palsy. J Musculoskelet Neuronal Interact. 2022 Jun 1;22(2):172-178. PMID 35642697

Identifiers

NCT: NCT06673797 · REC/RCR/AHS/24/Ali Raza

Primary sources (government registries)

• ClinicalTrials.gov (US NIH)

View this study on ClinicalTrials.gov ↗