Spastic Cerebral PalsyNCT07310550
A Physical Therapy Program Targeting Lower Extremity Selective Motor Control in Children With Spastic Cerebral Palsy
A study testing Selective movement of individual lower limb joints, Knee joint strengthening at high velocities and Functional activities based on child and parental goals in people with Spastic Cerebral Palsy, run by University of California, Los Angeles at 1 site in United States.
Trial summary
The goal of this intervention study is to learn whether a physical therapy exercise camp called will improve leg movement (motor control) and functional ability in children with spastic CP who are between 5 and 18 years. Read more about this study
- Who is it for?
- Ages 5 to 18 years
- Conditions the study is for
- Spastic Cerebral Palsy
- What is being tested?
- Selective movement of individual lower limb joints, Knee joint strengthening at high velocities and Functional activities based on child and parental goals
- Could I receive a placebo?
- No, everyone receives an active treatment
- How many people
- 23 participants
- Where
- 1 siteUnited States
- Study dates
- 1 May 2014to 7 Jan 2019
- 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 5 to 18 years
- All sexes
- No healthy volunteers
- Child, Adult
Who may be able to join
- spastic cerebral palsy
- age between 5-18 years
- ability to walk at least 10 meters
- ability to follow simple verbal directions
Who cannot join
- All participants
- botulinum toxin or serial casting within the preceding 3 months
- recent orthopedic or neurological surgery within the preceding 12 months
- uncontrolled seizures
- For participants undergoing MRI
- inability to lie still
- incompatible metal implants
- baclofen pumps or shunts
Trial locations and contacts
1 site in 1 country.
United States1 site
Center for Cerebral Palsy at UCLA/Orthopaedic Institute for Children
Los Angeles, California, 90095
About this study
Official title: Physical Therapy Program for Selective Motor Control
The goal of this intervention study is to learn whether a physical therapy exercise camp called will improve leg movement (motor control) and functional ability in children with spastic CP who are between 5 and 18 years. The main questions the study aims to answer are:
- Does the ability to move the knee at high velocities improve?
- Does function such as walking, running, hopping, climbing stairs improve?
- Will the brain tracts that control movement change?
- Will children who have better independent control of joint motion improve more?
Read more
All participants will:
- Attend 15 sessions of an exercise camp for 3 hours per day
- Perform a home exercise program after the camp ends
Measurements:
- Lower extremity selective motor control
- Knee muscle strength at high speeds using an exercise machine
- Gross motor function
- Gait analysis (walking patterns)
- Parent's perception of their child's ability and their satisfaction with that ability
- Change in brain motor tracts using a scanner (MRI) for participants that meet the inclusion criteria for MRI
MRI measurements will be taken twice (before and immediately after the treatment). All other measurements and will be taken 3 times (before, immediately after the treatment and approximately 4 months after the treatment).
- Conditions
- Spastic Cerebral Palsy
- Being tested
- Selective movement of individual lower limb joints, Knee joint strengthening at high velocities, Ankle controlled gaming, Functional activities based on child and parental goals, Sensori-motor exercises
- Keywords
- cerebral palsy, spastic, physical therapy, selective motor control, intervention, corticospinal tracts
- Medical subject headings
- Cerebral Palsy, Muscle Spasticity
What participants receive
What participants receive. In a randomised study each person is assigned to one group by chance.
Selective movement of individual lower limb jointsOther
Children practices moving the joints of each lower leg independently.
Knee joint strengthening at high velocitiesOther
In sitting, the thigh and trunk are secured to a seat and the lower leg to a moving arm that provides resistance at exercise velocities progressing up to a maximum of 300 deg/s.
Ankle controlled gamingOther
With the child in sitting, the ankle is secured to a moving segment. The child can control games such as tennis by dorsiflexing and plantar flexing their ankle at increasing velocities to meet the demands of the game.
Functional activities based on child and parental goalsOther
The Canadian Occupational Performance Measure is used to identify functional goals. Activities to address these goals are designed by physical therapists and practiced during camp.
Sensori-motor exercisesOther
Walking barefoot over sand and grass. Foot and ankle sensory exploration using materials with various textures.
| Study group | Role | What they receive |
|---|---|---|
| Participants who have the intervention | Experimental | physical therapy exercise intervention Receives: Other: Selective movement of individual lower limb joints; Other: Knee joint strengthening at high velocities; Other: Ankle controlled gaming; Other: Functional activities based on child and parental goals; Other: Sensori-motor exercises |
What is being measured
The primary outcome is the main question the study is designed to answer.
Gross Motor Function Measure
Children are asked to perform functional activities including standing, walking, running, balancing and stair climbing. The data are entered into a computer program to create a score ranging from 0-100. A higher score indicates better function.
Measured: nine months
Secondary outcomes (3)
Knee joint torque
Three repetitions of maximum effort knee extension and flexion torque are collected at 0-300 deg/s for the affected lower limbs. Outcomes are the percent of knee joints that can produce measurable torque at each velocity and the peak joint torque that is produced.
Measured: nine months
Canadian Occupational Performance Measure
Parents/caregivers and children choose 5 activities that they would like to see improve as a result of this intervention. The parent or caregiver rates how well their child currently performs that task and how satisfied they are with the performance of the task on a scale of 1-10 with 10 being the highest score.
Measured: nine months
Brain MRI - Diffusion tensor imaging
A brain MRI scan is obtained. Tract based spatial statistics are performed from the scan to look for changes in individual voxels. Higher values for fractional anisotropy are associated with improved tract integrity. Lower values for radial and median diffusivity are associated with improved myelination.
Measured: nine months
Timeline
From the start of the study to its completion; the mark is today. Estimated dates are the sponsor’s plan.
- First posted30 Dec 2025
- Study start1 May 2014
- Primary completion7 Jan 2019
- Study completion7 Jan 2019
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 University of California, Los AngelesThe 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
- Not applicable
- Intervention model
- Single group
- Masking
- Single blind
- Who is masked
- Outcomes assessor
- Enrolment
- 23 participants (actual)
Sponsor and investigators
- Lead sponsor
- University of California, Los Angeles
- Sponsor type
- University, hospital or other
- Responsible party
- Principal investigator, Eileen Fowler, University of California, Los Angeles
- Investigators
- Eileen G Fowler, PhD, PT, Principal investigator, University of California, Los Angeles
IDs, dates and publications
- ClinicalTrials.gov ID
- NCT07310550
- Sponsor's protocol ID
- 14-0414
- Status last verified
- Jan 2026
- First submitted
- 16 Dec 2025
- Last updated
- 9 Jan 2026
- Results posted
- No
- Data monitoring committee
- No
- FDA-regulated drug
- No
- FDA-regulated device
- No
- Individual data sharing
- No
Publications
Vuong A, Joshi SH, Staudt LA, Matsumoto JH, Fowler EG. Improved Myelination following Camp Leg Power, a Selective Motor Control Intervention for Children with Spastic Bilateral Cerebral Palsy: A Diffusion Tensor MRI Study. AJNR Am J Neuroradiol. 2023 Jun;44(6):700-706. doi: 10.3174/ajnr.A7860. Epub 2023 May 4.
PubMed 37142433
Study at a glance
From the registry record, last updated by the sponsor on 9 Jan 2026. Recruitment status is as the sponsor reported it: confirm with the study team.
- Official title
- Physical Therapy Program for Selective Motor Control
- ClinicalTrials.gov ID
- NCT07310550
- Acronym / sponsor ID
- 14-0414
- Conditions
- Spastic Cerebral Palsy
- Keywords
- cerebral palsy, spastic, physical therapy, selective motor control, intervention, corticospinal tracts
- Study type
- Interventional
- Recruitment status
- Completed
- Enrolment
- 23 participants (actual)
- Lead sponsor
- University of California, Los AngelesUniversity, hospital or other
- Study start
- 1 May 2014 (actual)
- Primary completion
- 7 Jan 2019 (actual)
- Study completion
- 7 Jan 2019 (actual)
- First posted
- 30 Dec 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.
The goal of this intervention study is to learn whether a physical therapy exercise camp called will improve leg movement (motor control) and functional ability in children with spastic CP who are between 5 and 18 years. The main questions the study aims to answer are:
- Does the ability to move the knee at high velocities improve?
- Does function such as walking, running, hopping, climbing stairs improve?
- Will the brain tracts that control movement change?
- Will children who have better independent control of joint motion improve more?
All participants will:
- Attend 15 sessions of an exercise camp for 3 hours per day
- Perform a home exercise program after the camp ends
Measurements:
- Lower extremity selective motor control
- Knee muscle strength at high speeds using an exercise machine
- Gross motor function
- Gait analysis (walking patterns)
- Parent's perception of their child's ability and their satisfaction with that ability
- Change in brain motor tracts using a scanner (MRI) for participants that meet the inclusion criteria for MRI
MRI measurements will be taken twice (before and immediately after the treatment). All other measurements and will be taken 3 times (before, immediately after the treatment and approximately 4 months after the treatment).
Study design
- Primary purpose
- Treatment
- Allocation
- Not applicable
- Intervention model
- Single group
- Masking
- Single blind (outcomes assessor)
- Number of arms
- 1
| Arm | Type | Receives |
|---|---|---|
| Participants who have the intervention | Experimental | Other: Selective movement of individual lower limb joints, Other: Knee joint strengthening at high velocities, Other: Ankle controlled gaming, Other: Functional activities based on child and parental goals, Other: Sensori-motor exercisesphysical therapy exercise intervention |
Who may qualify
- Ages
- 5 to 18 years
- Sex
- All
- Healthy volunteers
- Not accepted
- Age groups
- Child, Adult
Key inclusion criteria (4 listed)
- spastic cerebral palsy
- age between 5-18 years
- ability to walk at least 10 meters
- ability to follow simple verbal directions
Key exclusion criteria (8 listed)
- All participants
- botulinum toxin or serial casting within the preceding 3 months
- recent orthopedic or neurological surgery within the preceding 12 months
- uncontrolled seizures
- For participants undergoing MRI
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 |
|---|---|---|
| Selective movement of individual lower limb jointsChildren practices moving the joints of each lower leg independently. | Other | Participants who have the intervention |
| Knee joint strengthening at high velocitiesIn sitting, the thigh and trunk are secured to a seat and the lower leg to a moving arm that provides resistance at exercise velocities progressing up to a maximum of 300 deg/s. | Other | Participants who have the intervention |
| Ankle controlled gamingWith the child in sitting, the ankle is secured to a moving segment. The child can control games such as tennis by dorsiflexing and plantar flexing their ankle at increasing velocities to meet the demands of the game. | Other | Participants who have the intervention |
| Functional activities based on child and parental goalsThe Canadian Occupational Performance Measure is used to identify functional goals. Activities to address these goals are designed by physical therapists and practiced during camp. | Other | Participants who have the intervention |
| Sensori-motor exercisesWalking barefoot over sand and grass. Foot and ankle sensory exploration using materials with various textures. | Other | Participants who have the intervention |
Primary outcome
Gross Motor Function Measure
Time frame: nine months
Children are asked to perform functional activities including standing, walking, running, balancing and stair climbing. The data are entered into a computer program to create a score ranging from 0-100. A higher score indicates better function.
3 secondary outcomes
Knee joint torque
Time frame: nine months
Canadian Occupational Performance Measure
Time frame: nine months
Brain MRI - Diffusion tensor imaging
Time frame: nine months
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 9 Jan 2026.
- Results publication: PubMed 37142433Vuong A, Joshi SH, Staudt LA, Matsumoto JH, Fowler EG. Improved Myelination following Camp Leg Power, a Selective Motor Control Intervention for Children with Spastic Bilateral Cerebral Palsy: A Diffusion Tensor MRI Study. AJNR Am J Neuroradiol. 2023 Jun;44(6):700-706. doi: 10.3174/ajnr.A7860. Epub 2023 May 4.
- Individual participant dataSharing planned: No
Related trials for Spastic Cerebral Palsy
Recruiting
Short-Term Effects of Manual Therapy Prior to Neuromotor Therapy in Children With Cerebral Palsy
Cerebral Palsy (CP), Unilateral Spastic Cerebral Palsy
Not yet recruiting
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.
Eileen G Fowler, PhD, PT principal investigator
University of California, Los Angeles
1 site in 1 country: see every site and its status.
Questions about this trial
What is this clinical trial studying?
A study testing Selective movement of individual lower limb joints, Knee joint strengthening at high velocities and Functional activities based on child and parental goals in people with Spastic Cerebral Palsy, run by University of California, Los Angeles at 1 site in United States.
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 4 inclusion and 8 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 9 Jan 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 United States. 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 (time frame: nine months). 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 NCT07310550, 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 9 Jan 2026.