Spastic Cerebral PalsyNCT07251751
Forward Versus Backward Gait Training on Functional Abilities in Children With Spastic Cerebral Palsy
A study testing forward gait training and backward gait training in people with Spastic Cerebral Palsy, run by Cairo University at 1 site in Egypt.
Trial summary
This study aims to compare the effects of forward versus backward gait training on functional abilities in children with spastic cerebral palsy. Participants will receive gait training sessions focusing on either forward or backward walking to evaluate improvements in balance, mobility, and gross motor function. Read more about this study
- Who is it for?
- Ages 6 to 9 years
- Conditions the study is for
- Spastic Cerebral Palsy
- What is being tested?
- forward gait training and backward gait training
- Type of treatment
- Lifestyle or therapy programme
- Could I receive a placebo?
- No, everyone receives an active treatment
- How many people
- 60 participants
- Where
- 1 siteEgypt
- Study dates
- 1 Nov 2025to 1 Mar 2026
- Phase
- Interventional
- Are there results?
- None posted in the registry
Key requirements
Who can take part, as listed by the sponsor. Only the study team can confirm whether you are eligible, so take this list to your doctor.
- Ages 6 to 9 years
- All sexes
- No healthy volunteers
- Child
Who may be able to join
None listed.
Who cannot join
- 1- Any surgical intervention in upper or lower limbs. 2¬- Any type of fracture. 3- Visual and/or auditory defects. 4- Other neurological conditions rather than CP. 5- Significant tightness or fixed deformity of lower limbs and spine. 6- Congenital heart disease.
Trial locations and contacts
1 site in 1 country.
About this study
This study aims to compare the effects of forward versus backward gait training on functional abilities in children with spastic cerebral palsy. Participants will receive gait training sessions focusing on either forward or backward walking to evaluate improvements in balance, mobility, and gross motor function.
Read the detailed description
> Cerebral palsy is a common neurological disorder in children that affects movement and posture. Spastic cerebral palsy is characterized by muscle stiffness and impaired motor control, which limits the child's functional mobility.
Gait training is an essential part of rehabilitation programs for children with cerebral palsy. Previous studies have shown that both forward and backward walking can improve motor performance, but limited evidence exists comparing the two methods directly.
The present randomized clinical trial aims to compare the effects of forward gait training versus backward gait training on functional abilities in children with spastic cerebral palsy. Participants will be randomly assigned into three groups: group (A) will receive a designed physical therapy program. group (B) will receive the same program with forward gait training on treadmill. group (C) will receive the same designed physical therapy program beside backward gait training on treadmill three times weekly over three successive months.
Outcome measures will include muscle strength of measurements, range of motion of lower limb,gait pattern changes and gross motor function measurements.
- Conditions
- Spastic Cerebral Palsy
- Being tested
- control group ( designed physical therapy program), forward gait training, backward gait training
- Keywords
- Gait Training
- Medical subject headings
- Cerebral Palsy
What participants receive
What participants receive. In a randomised study each person is assigned to one group by chance.
control group ( designed physical therapy program)Behavioural
Participants receive traditional physical therapy exercises focusing on stretching, strengthening, and balance training for the same duration as the experimental groups.
forward gait trainingBehavioural
The training program consists of forward walking exercises conducted three times per week for three successive months under the supervision of a physical therapist.
backward gait trainingBehavioural
The training program consists of backward walking exercises conducted three times per week for three successive months under the supervision of a physical therapist.
| Study group | Role | What they receive |
|---|---|---|
| control group (designed physical therapy program) | Active comparator | participants will receive designed physical therapy exercises only Receives: Behavioral: control group ( designed physical therapy program) |
| forward gait training | Experimental | participants will receive designed physical therapy exercises beside forward gait training. Receives: Behavioral: forward gait training |
| backward gait training | Experimental | participants will receive designed physical therapy exercises beside backward gait training. Receives: Behavioral: backward gait training |
What is being measured
The primary outcome is the main question the study is designed to answer.
Gross Motor Function Measure (GMFM-88) score
The GMFM-88 will be used to assess changes in gross motor function in children with spastic cerebral palsy before and after the intervention. Higher scores indicate better motor performance.
Measured: Baseline and after three months of intervention
Timeline
From the start of the study to its completion; the mark is today. Estimated dates are the sponsor’s plan.
- First posted26 Nov 2025
- Study start1 Nov 2025
- Primary completion1 Feb 2026
- Study completion1 Mar 2026
Resources
- Official record on ClinicalTrials.govThe registry entry this page is built from, with its full change history.
- Publications (1)Papers the sponsor has linked to this study.
- Other trials for Spastic Cerebral PalsyStudies of the same condition, open and under way.
- More trials run by Cairo UniversityThe sponsor's other registered studies.
- What the trial phases meanHow a treatment moves from first tests in people to approval.
More details
For doctors and researchers: how the study is designed, who runs it, and its registry IDs.
Study design
- Study type
- Interventional
- Phase
- Phase N/A
- Primary purpose
- Treatment
- Allocation
- Randomised
- Intervention model
- Parallel groups
- Masking
- None (open label)
- Enrolment
- 60 participants (actual)
Sponsor and investigators
- Lead sponsor
- Cairo University
- Sponsor type
- University, hospital or other
- Responsible party
- Principal investigator, Ramy Abdulmoneem Abdullah Khidr, Cairo University
- Investigators
- Ramy A Khidr, PhD, Principal investigator, El shohadaa Central Hospital
IDs, dates and publications
- ClinicalTrials.gov ID
- NCT07251751
- Sponsor's protocol ID
- Ramy Gait training in C.P
- Status last verified
- Mar 2026
- First submitted
- 19 Nov 2025
- Last updated
- 19 Mar 2026
- Results posted
- No
- Data monitoring committee
- No
- FDA-regulated drug
- No
- FDA-regulated device
- No
- Individual data sharing
- No: Individual participant data (IPD) will not be shared because the study is conducted locally for academic and clinical purposes only.
Publications
Keep H, Luu L, Berson A, Garland SJ. Validity of the Handheld Dynamometer Compared with an Isokinetic Dynamometer in Measuring Peak Hip Extension Strength. Physiother Can. 2016;68(1):15-22. doi: 10.3138/ptc.2014-62.
PubMed 27504043
Study at a glance
From the registry record, last updated by the sponsor on 19 Mar 2026. Recruitment status is as the sponsor reported it: confirm with the study team.
- Official title
- Forward Versus Backward Gait Training on Functional Abilities in Children With Spastic Cerebral Palsy
- ClinicalTrials.gov ID
- NCT07251751
- Acronym / sponsor ID
- Ramy Gait training in C.P
- Conditions
- Spastic Cerebral Palsy
- Keywords
- Gait Training
- Study type
- Interventional
- Recruitment status
- Completed
- Enrolment
- 60 participants (actual)
- Lead sponsor
- Cairo UniversityUniversity, hospital or other
- Study start
- 1 Nov 2025 (actual)
- Primary completion
- 1 Feb 2026 (actual)
- Study completion
- 1 Mar 2026 (actual)
- First posted
- 26 Nov 2025 (actual)
- Results
- Not posted in the source record
Clinical summary
The research question as the sponsor registered it. This describes what the study plans to test, not what it found.
This study aims to compare the effects of forward versus backward gait training on functional abilities in children with spastic cerebral palsy. Participants will receive gait training sessions focusing on either forward or backward walking to evaluate improvements in balance, mobility, and gross motor function.
Detailed description
> Cerebral palsy is a common neurological disorder in children that affects movement and posture. Spastic cerebral palsy is characterized by muscle stiffness and impaired motor control, which limits the child's functional mobility.
Gait training is an essential part of rehabilitation programs for children with cerebral palsy. Previous studies have shown that both forward and backward walking can improve motor performance, but limited evidence exists comparing the two methods directly.
The present randomized clinical trial aims to compare the effects of forward gait training versus backward gait training on functional abilities in children with spastic cerebral palsy. Participants will be randomly assigned into three groups: group (A) will receive a designed physical therapy program. group (B) will receive the same program with forward gait training on treadmill. group (C) will receive the same designed physical therapy program beside backward gait training on treadmill three times weekly over three successive months.
Outcome measures will include muscle strength of measurements, range of motion of lower limb,gait pattern changes and gross motor function measurements.
Study design
- Primary purpose
- Treatment
- Allocation
- Randomised
- Intervention model
- Parallel groups
- Masking
- None (open label)
- Number of arms
- 3
| Arm | Type | Receives |
|---|---|---|
| control group (designed physical therapy program) | Active comparator | Behavioral: control group ( designed physical therapy program)participants will receive designed physical therapy exercises only |
| forward gait training | Experimental | Behavioral: forward gait trainingparticipants will receive designed physical therapy exercises beside forward gait training. |
| backward gait training | Experimental | Behavioral: backward gait trainingparticipants will receive designed physical therapy exercises beside backward gait training. |
Who may qualify
- Ages
- 6 to 9 years
- Sex
- All
- Healthy volunteers
- Not accepted
- Age groups
- Child
Key inclusion criteria (0 listed)
Key exclusion criteria (1 listed)
- 1- Any surgical intervention in upper or lower limbs. 2¬- Any type of fracture. 3- Visual and/or auditory defects. 4- Other neurological conditions rather than CP. 5- Significant tightness or fixed deformity of lower limbs and spine. 6- Congenital heart disease.
Eligibility is decided by the study team after screening; this overview does not establish that a patient qualifies. Full inclusion and exclusion criteria.
Interventions
| Intervention | Type | Arms |
|---|---|---|
| control group ( designed physical therapy program)Participants receive traditional physical therapy exercises focusing on stretching, strengthening, and balance training for the same duration as the experimental groups. | Behavioural | control group (designed physical therapy program) |
| forward gait trainingThe training program consists of forward walking exercises conducted three times per week for three successive months under the supervision of a physical therapist. | Behavioural | forward gait training |
| backward gait trainingThe training program consists of backward walking exercises conducted three times per week for three successive months under the supervision of a physical therapist. | Behavioural | backward gait training |
Primary outcome
Gross Motor Function Measure (GMFM-88) score
Time frame: Baseline and after three months of intervention
The GMFM-88 will be used to assess changes in gross motor function in children with spastic cerebral palsy before and after the intervention. Higher scores indicate better motor performance.
Results and safety
The study is completed, but results are not available in the source record. That does not mean the treatment did or did not work.
Research links
- Official record on ClinicalTrials.govLast updated by the sponsor 19 Mar 2026.
- Background: PubMed 27504043Keep H, Luu L, Berson A, Garland SJ. Validity of the Handheld Dynamometer Compared with an Isokinetic Dynamometer in Measuring Peak Hip Extension Strength. Physiother Can. 2016;68(1):15-22. doi: 10.3138/ptc.2014-62.
- Individual participant dataSharing planned: No. Individual participant data (IPD) will not be shared because the study is conducted locally for academic and clinical purposes only.
Related trials for Spastic Cerebral Palsy
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Short-Term Effects of Manual Therapy Prior to Neuromotor Therapy in Children With Cerebral Palsy
Cerebral Palsy (CP), Unilateral Spastic Cerebral Palsy
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Virtual Reality-Augmented Constraint-Induced Movement Therapy Versus Conventional Constraint-Induced Therapy for Upper Limb Rehabilitation in Children With Unilateral Cerebral Palsy.
Cerebral Palsy Spastic Hemiplegic, Functionnal Neurological Disorder
Not yet recruiting
Dual-Task Training in Children With Spastic Diplegic Cerebral Palsy
Spastic Diplegia Cerebral Palsy
Not yet recruitingObservational study
Sleep Quality, Caregiver Burden, Stress, and Self-Efficacy in Parents of Children With Spastic Diplegic Cerebral Palsy: A Comparison by Night Orthosis Use
Cerebral Palsy, Sleep Disorders
Recruiting
rTMS Treatment of Spasticity in Children With Cerebral Palsy/ Hemiplegia Due to ABI - a RCT
CP (Cerebral Palsy)
Referral and contact
AzTrials does not enrol participants or take referrals. Contact the study team or a site listed below; they decide who can take part. This study is not recruiting at the moment.
Ramy A Khidr, PhD principal investigator
El shohadaa Central Hospital
1 site in 1 country: see every site and its status.
Questions about this trial
What is this clinical trial studying?
A study testing forward gait training and backward gait training in people with Spastic Cerebral Palsy, run by Cairo University at 1 site in Egypt.
The full registered description is in the About this study section and the official record.
Who may be eligible to take part?
The sponsor lists 0 inclusion and 1 exclusion criteria. Eligibility is decided by the study team after screening, so read the full criteria and contact a listed site.
Is this clinical trial currently recruiting?
The record says: finished, as of the sponsor's last update on 19 Mar 2026. Status can change between updates, so confirm with the study contact before making plans.
Where is the study taking place?
The record lists 1 site in Egypt. Whether a site is taking part right now should be confirmed with that site. See every site.
What are the possible benefits and risks?
They depend on the study and the treatment, and no study can promise a benefit. The study team explains the known risks during informed consent, before anyone joins; the record itself does not list them.
Are results available for this study?
The study is completed, but results are not available in the source record. That does not mean the treatment did or did not work.
How can a doctor refer a patient or contact the research team?
The record lists no contact. The official record names the sponsor, who can be asked directly. AzTrials does not enrol participants or take referrals.
What does the primary outcome measure?
Gross Motor Function Measure (GMFM-88) score (time frame: Baseline and after three months of intervention). It is what the study was designed to measure, not a finding.
Where can I read the original study information?
On the ClinicalTrials.gov record for NCT07251751, which also lists 1 linked publication.
Does a listing mean the treatment is approved or proven to work?
No. A listing means the study is registered. It does not show that the treatment is safe, works, or is approved by a regulator.
How often is this information updated?
AzTrials copies changed records from ClinicalTrials.gov every night and reloads the whole registry every week. The sponsor last updated this record on 19 Mar 2026.