Cerebral Palsy (CP)CROSS-UPNCT07525752
Carry-Over Effects of Lower Limb Cross-Training Priming on Upper Limb Function in Children With Unilateral Cerebral Palsy
A study testing Standard rehabilitation program and Lower Limb Cross-Training Priming in people with Cerebral Palsy (CP) and Unilateral Cerebral Palsy, run by Cairo University at 1 site in Egypt.
Trial summary
PURPOSE: The purpose of this randomized controlled trial was to investigate the potential carry-over effects of a 6-week lower limb strengthening-based cross-training (CT) priming protocol, added to standard physical rehabilitation, on affected upper limb function in children aged 6-8 years with unilateral cerebral… Read more about this study
- Who is it for?
- Ages 6 to 8 years
- Conditions the study is for
- Cerebral Palsy (CP), Unilateral Cerebral Palsy
- What is being tested?
- Standard rehabilitation program and Lower Limb Cross-Training Priming
- Could I receive a placebo?
- No, everyone receives an active treatment
- How many people
- 40 participants
- Where
- 1 siteEgypt
- Study dates
- 1 Jan 2026to 31 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 8 years
- All sexes
- No healthy volunteers
- Child
Who may be able to join
- Mild spasticity (MAS 1 or 1+), independent ambulation (AFOs permitted), and the ability to follow simple instructions.
Who cannot join
- Children with significant fixed deformities, cognitive or sensory impairments hindering participation, uncontrolled epilepsy, or recent interventions like botulinum toxin or orthopedic surgery.
Trial locations and contacts
1 site in 1 country.
Egypt1 site
Faculty of Physical Therapy, Cairo University
Giza, Cairo Governorate, 12613
About this study
Official title: Carry-Over Effects of Lower Limb Cross-Training Priming on Upper Limb Function in Children With Unilateral Cerebral Palsy: A Randomized Controlled Trial
PURPOSE:
The purpose of this randomized controlled trial was to investigate the potential carry-over effects of a 6-week lower limb strengthening-based cross-training (CT) priming protocol, added to standard physical rehabilitation, on affected upper limb function in children aged 6-8 years with unilateral cerebral palsy (UCP), compared to standard physical rehabilitation alone.
Read more
BACKGROUND:
Children with unilateral cerebral palsy (UCP) experience motor impairments affecting both lower and upper limbs, significantly impacting functional independence. While rehabilitation often targets specific limbs, interventions may induce broader neuroplastic changes. Movement-based priming, particularly strengthening-based cross-training (CT) targeting the less-affected limb, has shown promise for improving contralateral lower limb function in UCP, likely via cross-education mechanisms involving central nervous system adaptations. However, it remains largely unexplored whether such lower limb-focused priming interventions can induce secondary "carry-over" effects, positively influencing the function of the ipsilaterally affected upper limb through potential mechanisms like widespread neural adaptations or improved postural stability. Addressing this gap is crucial for understanding the holistic impact of priming interventions and optimizing rehabilitation strategies.
HYPOTHESES:
There will be no statistically significant difference in the improvement of affected handgrip strength, grasping skills and functional UL Outcome Measure between children receiving lower limb CT priming plus standard rehabilitation and those receiving standard rehabilitation alone over the 6-week intervention period.
RESEARCH QUESTION:
Does the addition of a 6-week lower limb strengthening-based cross-training priming protocol to standard physical rehabilitation result in significantly greater improvements in affected upper limb function (specifically handgrip strength and grasping skills) compared to standard physical rehabilitation alone in children aged 6-8 years with unilateral cerebral palsy?
- Conditions
- Cerebral Palsy (CP), Unilateral Cerebral Palsy
- Being tested
- Standard rehabilitation program, Lower Limb Cross-Training Priming
- Medical subject headings
- Cerebral Palsy
What participants receive
What participants receive. In a randomised study each person is assigned to one group by chance.
Standard rehabilitation programOther
60-minute physical therapy program including strengthening, balance, and functional activities for children with unilateral cerebral palsy.
Lower Limb Cross-Training PrimingOther
10-15 minutes of lower limb strengthening-based cross-training of the less-affected limb used as movement-based priming prior to standard rehabilitation.
| Study group | Role | What they receive |
|---|---|---|
| Standard Rehabilitation Only | Active comparator | Children receive 60 minutes of standard physical rehabilitation targeting motor function, 3 sessions per week for 6 weeks, with no lower limb cross-training priming. Receives: Other: Standard rehabilitation program |
| Lower Limb Cross-Training Priming + Standard Rehabilitation | Experimental | Children receive 10-15 minutes of lower limb strengthening-based cross-training priming of the less-affected limb, immediately followed by the same 60-minute standard rehabilitation program, 3 sessions per week for 6 weeks. Receives: Other: Standard rehabilitation program; Other: Lower Limb Cross-Training Priming |
What is being measured
The primary outcome is the main question the study is designed to answer.
Handgrip Strength (HGS)
Handgrip strength measured by Jamar hand dynamometer
Measured: Baseline and after 6 weeks of training
Secondary outcomes (1)
Peabody Developmental Motor Scales-2, Fine Motor subtest (PDMS-2 FM) - Grasping Age Equivalent
Grasping age equivalent measured by Peabody Developmental Motor Scales-2, Fine Motor subtest (PDMS-2 FM)
Measured: Baseline and after 6 weeks of training
Timeline
From the start of the study to its completion; the mark is today. Estimated dates are the sponsor’s plan.
- First posted13 Apr 2026
- Study start1 Jan 2026
- Primary completion30 Mar 2026
- Study completion31 Mar 2026
Resources
- Official record on ClinicalTrials.govThe registry entry this page is built from, with its full change history.
- Publications (2)Papers the sponsor has linked to this study.
- Other trials for Cerebral Palsy (CP)Studies 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
- Single blind
- Who is masked
- Participant
- Enrolment
- 40 participants (actual)
Sponsor and investigators
- Lead sponsor
- Cairo University
- Sponsor type
- University, hospital or other
- Responsible party
- Principal investigator, Tamer Mohamed El-Saeed, Cairo University
IDs, dates and publications
- ClinicalTrials.gov ID
- NCT07525752
- Sponsor's protocol ID
- P.T.REC/012/006149
- Acronym
- CROSS-UP
- Status last verified
- Apr 2026
- First submitted
- 31 Mar 2026
- Last updated
- 13 Apr 2026
- Results posted
- No
- Data monitoring committee
- Yes
- FDA-regulated drug
- No
- FDA-regulated device
- No
- Individual data sharing
- No: There is currently no plan to share de-identified individual participant data (IPD) from this trial outside the primary research group.
Publications
Kumari R, Dybus A, Purcell M, Vuckovic A. Motor priming to enhance the effect of physical therapy in people with spinal cord injury. J Spinal Cord Med. 2025 Mar;48(2):312-326. doi: 10.1080/10790268.2024.2317011. Epub 2024 Feb 23.
PubMed 38391261Stoykov ME, Madhavan S. Motor priming in neurorehabilitation. J Neurol Phys Ther. 2015 Jan;39(1):33-42. doi: 10.1097/NPT.0000000000000065.
PubMed 25415551
Study at a glance
From the registry record, last updated by the sponsor on 13 Apr 2026. Recruitment status is as the sponsor reported it: confirm with the study team.
- Official title
- Carry-Over Effects of Lower Limb Cross-Training Priming on Upper Limb Function in Children With Unilateral Cerebral Palsy: A Randomized Controlled Trial
- ClinicalTrials.gov ID
- NCT07525752
- Acronym / sponsor ID
- CROSS-UP / P.T.REC/012/006149
- Conditions
- Cerebral Palsy (CP), Unilateral Cerebral Palsy
- Study type
- Interventional
- Recruitment status
- Completed
- Enrolment
- 40 participants (actual)
- Lead sponsor
- Cairo UniversityUniversity, hospital or other
- Study start
- 1 Jan 2026 (actual)
- Primary completion
- 30 Mar 2026 (actual)
- Study completion
- 31 Mar 2026 (actual)
- First posted
- 13 Apr 2026 (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.
PURPOSE:
The purpose of this randomized controlled trial was to investigate the potential carry-over effects of a 6-week lower limb strengthening-based cross-training (CT) priming protocol, added to standard physical rehabilitation, on affected upper limb function in children aged 6-8 years with unilateral cerebral palsy (UCP), compared to standard physical rehabilitation alone.
BACKGROUND:
Children with unilateral cerebral palsy (UCP) experience motor impairments affecting both lower and upper limbs, significantly impacting functional independence. While rehabilitation often targets specific limbs, interventions may induce broader neuroplastic changes. Movement-based priming, particularly strengthening-based cross-training (CT) targeting the less-affected limb, has shown promise for improving contralateral lower limb function in UCP, likely via cross-education mechanisms involving central nervous system adaptations. However, it remains largely unexplored whether such lower limb-focused priming interventions can induce secondary "carry-over" effects, positively influencing the function of the ipsilaterally affected upper limb through potential mechanisms like widespread neural adaptations or improved postural stability. Addressing this gap is crucial for understanding the holistic impact of priming interventions and optimizing rehabilitation strategies.
HYPOTHESES:
There will be no statistically significant difference in the improvement of affected handgrip strength, grasping skills and functional UL Outcome Measure between children receiving lower limb CT priming plus standard rehabilitation and those receiving standard rehabilitation alone over the 6-week intervention period.
RESEARCH QUESTION:
Does the addition of a 6-week lower limb strengthening-based cross-training priming protocol to standard physical rehabilitation result in significantly greater improvements in affected upper limb function (specifically handgrip strength and grasping skills) compared to standard physical rehabilitation alone in children aged 6-8 years with unilateral cerebral palsy?
Study design
- Primary purpose
- Treatment
- Allocation
- Randomised
- Intervention model
- Parallel groups
- Masking
- Single blind (participant)
- Number of arms
- 2
| Arm | Type | Receives |
|---|---|---|
| Standard Rehabilitation Only | Active comparator | Other: Standard rehabilitation programChildren receive 60 minutes of standard physical rehabilitation targeting motor function, 3 sessions per week for 6 weeks, with no lower limb cross-training priming. |
| Lower Limb Cross-Training Priming + Standard Rehabilitation | Experimental | Other: Standard rehabilitation program, Other: Lower Limb Cross-Training PrimingChildren receive 10-15 minutes of lower limb strengthening-based cross-training priming of the less-affected limb, immediately followed by the same 60-minute standard rehabilitation program, 3 sessions per week for 6 weeks. |
Who may qualify
- Ages
- 6 to 8 years
- Sex
- All
- Healthy volunteers
- Not accepted
- Age groups
- Child
Key inclusion criteria (1 listed)
- Mild spasticity (MAS 1 or 1+), independent ambulation (AFOs permitted), and the ability to follow simple instructions.
Key exclusion criteria (1 listed)
- Children with significant fixed deformities, cognitive or sensory impairments hindering participation, uncontrolled epilepsy, or recent interventions like botulinum toxin or orthopedic surgery.
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 |
|---|---|---|
| Standard rehabilitation program60-minute physical therapy program including strengthening, balance, and functional activities for children with unilateral cerebral palsy. | Other | Lower Limb Cross-Training Priming + Standard Rehabilitation, Standard Rehabilitation Only |
| Lower Limb Cross-Training Priming10-15 minutes of lower limb strengthening-based cross-training of the less-affected limb used as movement-based priming prior to standard rehabilitation. | Other | Lower Limb Cross-Training Priming + Standard Rehabilitation |
Primary outcome
Handgrip Strength (HGS)
Time frame: Baseline and after 6 weeks of training
Handgrip strength measured by Jamar hand dynamometer
1 secondary outcome
Peabody Developmental Motor Scales-2, Fine Motor subtest (PDMS-2 FM) - Grasping Age Equivalent
Time frame: Baseline and after 6 weeks of training
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 13 Apr 2026.
- Background: PubMed 38391261Kumari R, Dybus A, Purcell M, Vuckovic A. Motor priming to enhance the effect of physical therapy in people with spinal cord injury. J Spinal Cord Med. 2025 Mar;48(2):312-326. doi: 10.1080/10790268.2024.2317011. Epub 2024 Feb 23.
- Background: PubMed 25415551Stoykov ME, Madhavan S. Motor priming in neurorehabilitation. J Neurol Phys Ther. 2015 Jan;39(1):33-42. doi: 10.1097/NPT.0000000000000065.
- Individual participant dataSharing planned: No. There is currently no plan to share de-identified individual participant data (IPD) from this trial outside the primary research group.
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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.
The record lists no contact. Use the official record to reach the sponsor.
1 site in 1 country: see every site and its status.
Questions about this trial
What is this clinical trial studying?
A study testing Standard rehabilitation program and Lower Limb Cross-Training Priming in people with Cerebral Palsy (CP) and Unilateral 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 1 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 13 Apr 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?
Handgrip Strength (HGS) (time frame: Baseline and after 6 weeks of training). 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 NCT07525752, which also lists 2 linked publications.
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 13 Apr 2026.