Spastic Cerebral Palsy (sCP)
Conditions
Brief summary
The aim of this clinical trial is to determine whether deep friction massage and stretching reduce muscle contraction in the calf muscle. The primary questions it seeks to answer are: * Does deep friction massage or stretching reduce muscle contraction? * Does deep friction massage or stretching improve walking? * Does deep friction massage or stretching increase ankle joint range of motion? Participants: Participants will undergo either deep friction massage or stretching exercises for 10 minutes, three days a week, over a period of six weeks.
Interventions
OTHERmanual static stretching exercises on plantar flexors
A manual static stretching exercises was performed on the plantar flexors in both knee extension and flexion. The stretch was applied while the participant was in a prone position
OTHERdeep friction massage on plantar flexors
Deep Friction Massage was applied to both the gastrocnemius muscle and the Achilles tendon. Participants were positioned in a prone posture for both applications
Sponsors
Muğla Sıtkı Koçman University
Study design
Allocation
RANDOMIZED
Intervention model
PARALLEL
Primary purpose
SUPPORTIVE_CARE
Masking
DOUBLE (Subject, Outcomes Assessor)
Eligibility
Sex/Gender
ALL
Age
3 Years to 18 Years
Healthy volunteers
No
Inclusion criteria
* a diagnosis of spastic diplegic or hemiparetic CP * aged between 3 and 18 years * classified as level I, II, or III according to the Gross Motor Function Classification System (GMFCS) * possessing sufficient cognitive function to cooperate.
Exclusion criteria
* Botulinum toxin (BoNT) injections to the lower extremity muscles within the last six months * undergoing any surgery such as muscle lengthening or joint contracture within the last six months * non-participation in two consecutive exercise sessions * experiencing illnesses such as infections or musculoskeletal injuries during the study period.
Design outcomes
Primary
| Measure | Time frame | Description |
|---|---|---|
| The Modified Ashworth Scale | before intervention and after 6 weeks | The Modified Ashworth Scale (MAS) is the most widely used clinical scale for measuring increases in muscle tone. The original Ashworth Scale was a 5-point numerical scale that graded spasticity from 0 to 4, with 0 indicating no resistance and 4 indicating a limb that is rigid in flexion or extension. |
Secondary
| Measure | Time frame | Description |
|---|---|---|
| The Modified Tardieu Scale | Before intervention and after 6 weeks | The Modified Tardieu Scale (MTS) is a clinical tool used to assess spasticity by evaluating the muscle's response to passive stretch at varying velocities. This scale was a 5-point numerical scale that graded spasticity from 0 to 5, with 0 indicating no resistance and 5 indicating a limb that is rigid in flexion or extension. |
| Range of motion (ROM) | Before intervention and after 6 weeks | Range of motion (ROM) of ankle assessments were conducted using a standard goniometer. In these measurements, the initial position of the ankle was set to a 90° angle between the fibula and the 5th metatarsal. Participants were positioned in a supine position with a thin pillow placed under their knees. The pivot point of the goniometer was aligned with the lateral malleolus, while the fixed arm was positioned parallel to the midline of the fibula. The moving arm of the goniometer followed the midline of the 5th metatarsal. The participant was then instructed to perform active dorsiflexion and plantar flexion movements, with the results recorded. This procedure was repeated for passive dorsiflexion and plantar flexion movements |
| The Modified Timed Up and Go Test (TUG) | Before intervention and after 6 weeks | The Modified Timed Up and Go Test (TUG) is a simple and objective clinical test that assesses walking speed, postural control, functional level, balance, and locomotor performance. In this test, the participant is asked to rise from a chair without armrests, walk at their own pace to touch a target placed 3 meters away, return to the starting point, and sit down again. The time taken to complete this task is recorded in seconds. The participant's starting position is sitting in a chair with the hip and knee joints flexed at 90° |
Countries
Turkey (Türkiye)
Outcome results
None listed