The effect of traditional Thai massage vs routine physical therapy on gait pattern in spastic cerebral palsy: A cross-over randomized controlled trial

Conditions

There are sill lack of physical therapist in the rural area for those cerebral palsy(CP) patients in Thailand. Fortunately, a traditional Thai massage is still one of the treatment strategies for the musculoskeletal problems (except for CPs) as an alternative choice. Therefore, if the traditional Thai massage is able to improve gait pattern in the CP patients represented by gait profile score(GPS), the treatment accessibility will be improved for those who live in the rural area. Cerebral palsy

Peerapat Lertwiram, Chanika Angsanuntsukh, Krongkaew Supapitanon, Tanyaporn Patathong, Apiphan Iamchaimongkol et al. (9 authors)

PLoS ONE2025-05-29

10.1371/journal.pone.0325169

Trial study protocol (Thai original).

Peerapat Lertwiram (21446830), Chanika Angsanuntsukh (20536479), Krongkaew Supapitanon (20536470), Tanyaporn Patathong (13765403), Apiphan Iamchaimongkol (21446833) et al. (9 authors)

OPAL (Open@LaTrobe) (La Trobe University)2025-05-29

10.1371/journal.pone.0325169.s003

Trial study protocol (English translation).

Peerapat Lertwiram (21446830), Chanika Angsanuntsukh (20536479), Krongkaew Supapitanon (20536470), Tanyaporn Patathong (13765403), Apiphan Iamchaimongkol (21446833) et al. (9 authors)

OPAL (Open@LaTrobe) (La Trobe University)2025-05-29

10.1371/journal.pone.0325169.s002

Interventions

Subjects must be undergone the traditional Thai massage protocol? 2 times a week (30 minutes per session) for 6 weeks 1) BML- leg (beginning from lower leg to the thigh then return to lower leg), and

Experimental Procedure/Surgery,Active Comparator Procedure/Surgery

Traditional Thai massage,Physical therapy

Eligibility

Sex/Gender

All

Age

5 Years to 100 Years

Inclusion criteria

Inclusion criteria: 1. Spastic cerebral palsy patient 2. Age more than 5 years 3. Gross Motor Function Classification System (GMFCS) level I to III

Exclusion criteria

Exclusion criteria: 1. Body temperature more than 38.0 degree Celsius 2. Coagulopathy 3. Unhealed fracture 4. Fixed joint contracture 5. Skin infection 6. Contact dermatitis 7. Received Botulinum A toxin within 6 months 8. Attention deficit hyperactive disorder 9. Behavioral disorder 10. Uncontrolled epilepsy

Design outcomes

Primary

Measure	Time frame
Gait profile score(GPS) 6 weeks after each arms is done the root mean square(RMS) difference between particular gait trial and averaged data from people with no gait pathology	—

Secondary

Measure	Time frame
Oxygen consumption, Foot pressure, Electromyography, Temporal spatial, Kinematic, Kinetics 6 weeks after each arms is done from 3D gait analysis,Popliteal angle, Range of motion(Passive and Active) 6 weeks after each arms is done from the physical examination	—

Countries

Thailand

Contacts

Public ContactPeerapat Lertwiram

Ramathibodi hospital

peerapat.ler@gmail.com0980107395

Outcome results

None listed