Hemiplegic Cerebral PalsyPLYO-HCPNCT07669857
Effect of Plyometric Training Cross Education on Strength, Selective Motor Control and Balance in Children With Hemiplegic Cerebral Palsy
A study testing Conventional Physiotherapy and Plyometric training in people with Hemiplegic Cerebral Palsy, run by Cairo University at 3 sites in Egypt.
Trial summary
The goal of this clinical trial is to evaluate the effect of plyometric training with cross-education on lower limb muscle strength, selective motor control, and balance in children with hemiplegic cerebral palsy (HCP). Read more about this study
- Who is it for?
- Ages 6 to 10 years
- Conditions the study is for
- Hemiplegic Cerebral Palsy
- What is being tested?
- Conventional Physiotherapy and Plyometric training
- Could I receive a placebo?
- No, everyone receives an active treatment
- How many people
- 40 participants
- Where
- 3 sitesEgypt
- Study dates
- 25 Jun 2026to 30 Sep 2026
- Phase
- Interventional
- Are there results?
- Not yet: the study is under way
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 10 years
- All sexes
- No healthy volunteers
- Child
Inclusion Criteria:Children eligible for participation in this study must meet all the following criteria:
- Diagnosed with HCP by a pediatric neurologist.
- Age range 6 and 10 years old.
- Their grade of spasticity level 1 or 1+ according to MAS.
- Their gross motor function level is I, II on GMFCS.
- Able to follow verbal instructions and cooperate during assessment and training.
Exclusion Criteria:Children will be excluded from this study if they have any of the following:
- Presence of corrective neurological/musculoskeletal surgery of the lower limb in the previous year or botulinum toxin injections of the lower limb within the previous 6 months.
- Presence of visual or auditory impairments that would affect balance performance.
- Uncontrolled epileptic seizures or recent medication changes
Trial locations and contacts
3 sites in 1 country. Contact the study team or a site near you to ask about taking part.
Egypt3 sites
Faculty of physical therapy Cairo University
Cairo
Mayada Ghalwash Abdelkarem, BSc PT, 0201556950163, mayada.khedr59@gmail.com
Cairo University
Giza, Giza Governorate, 11562
Mayada Ghalwash Abdelkarem, BSc PT, 201556950163, mayada.khedr59@gmail.com
Mayada Ghalwash Abdelkarem
Physical therapy Cairo University
Giza
Mayada Ghalwash Abd, BSc PT, 201556950163, mayada.khedr59@gmail.com
About this study
The goal of this clinical trial is to evaluate the effect of plyometric training with cross-education on lower limb muscle strength, selective motor control, and balance in children with hemiplegic cerebral palsy (HCP). It will also assess the safety and feasibility of applying this training program in pediatric rehabilitation.
The main questions it aims to answer are:
Read more
Does plyometric training with cross-education improve lower limb muscle strength in children with HCP? Does it improve selective motor control in the affected lower limb? Does it improve balance in children with HCP? Researchers will compare a study group receiving conventional physiotherapy plus plyometric training applied to the less affected limb to a control group receiving conventional physiotherapy only.
Participants will:
Receive treatment for 12 weeks (2 sessions per week) Attend regular physiotherapy sessions including stretching, strengthening, balance, and gait training Participate in plyometric exercises (study group only) Be assessed before and after the intervention using standardized tests for muscle strength, selective motor control, and balance
Read the detailed description
This study will be conducted as a randomized controlled clinical trial to investigate the effect of unilateral plyometric training with cross-education on lower limb muscle strength, selective motor control, and balance in children with hemiplegic cerebral palsy (HCP).
Hemiplegic cerebral palsy is a non-progressive neurological disorder caused by early brain injury, resulting in unilateral motor impairment, muscle weakness, and balance dysfunction. The cross-education effect refers to the transfer of strength and motor improvements from a trained limb to the contralateral untrained limb, primarily mediated by central neural mechanisms.
A total of forty children diagnosed with HCP will be recruited from outpatient pediatric clinics affiliated with the Faculty of Physical Therapy, Cairo University. Eligible participants will be randomly allocated into two equal groups.
The study group will receive a conventional pediatric physiotherapy program combined with a structured progressive plyometric training program applied exclusively to the less affected lower limb. The control group will receive only the conventional physiotherapy program, which includes stretching exercises, active and resistive range of motion exercises, balance training, and gait training.
The intervention will be carried out over a period of twelve weeks, with two sessions per week, each lasting approximately one hour. The plyometric training will be designed to progressively challenge neuromuscular performance through exercises involving the stretch-shortening cycle, while the conventional program will focus on functional motor rehabilitation.
Allocation will be performed using a computer-generated block randomization method, and concealment will be ensured using sealed opaque envelopes. The study will adhere to CONSORT guidelines for randomized controlled trials to ensure methodological rigor and transparency.
Outcome measures will be assessed at baseline and post-intervention using standardized and validated tools to evaluate changes in muscle strength, selective motor control, and balance. Data analysis will be performed to determine the effectiveness of the intervention.
- Conditions
- Hemiplegic Cerebral Palsy
- Being tested
- Conventional Physiotherapy, Plyometric training
- Keywords
- Cross-education effect, Hemiplegic cerebral palsy, Plyometric training
What participants receive
What participants receive. In a randomised study each person is assigned to one group by chance.
Conventional PhysiotherapyOther
Stretching, strengthening, balance, and gait training program.
Plyometric trainingOther
The plyometric training program will be applied to the less affected lower limb and is designed to enhance neuromuscular performance, explosive strength, proprioception, and motor coordination through rapid eccentric-concentric muscle actions.
Each training session will begin with a 5-minute warm-up to prepare the child physically and psychologically for exercise. The main training phase will include progressive plyometric exercises targeting lower limb function. A 5-minute cool-down period will be performed at the end of each session to promote muscle relaxation and reduce fatigue
| Study group | Role | What they receive |
|---|---|---|
| Study Group | Experimental | Not described Receives: Other: Conventional Physiotherapy; Other: Plyometric training |
| Control group | Active comparator | Not described Receives: Other: Conventional Physiotherapy |
What is being measured
The primary outcome is the main question the study is designed to answer.
Lower Limb Muscle Strength
Lower limb muscle strength will be assessed in the more affected limb using a hand-held dynamometer (HHD). Quadriceps and hamstring muscle groups will be tested.
The "make test" will be used to measure maximal isometric muscle strength. Each child will be instructed to gradually generate maximal force over approximately 5 seconds while maintaining a fixed joint position to avoid compensatory movements. The dynamometer will be stabilized and resistance applied via an ankle cuff positioned above the malleoli.
Each muscle group will be tested three times, with 30 seconds rest between trials. The average of the three maximal voluntary contractions will be recorded as the final value. Standardized positioning and verbal encouragement will be used to ensure maximal effort
Measured: 12 weeks
Selective Motor Control (SMC)
Selective motor control of the lower limb will be assessed using the Selective Control Assessment of the Lower Extremity (SCALE), which is a simple clinical tool that can be completed in less than 15 minutes and does not require special equipment (Fowler et al., 2009).
The SCALE will be used to evaluate selective voluntary motor control at five joints of the lower limb including the hip, knee, ankle, subtalar joint, and toes on both sides. For each joint, a representative movement that is independent of typical synergistic flexor or extensor patterns will be selected.
Most assessments will be performed in sitting position, while hip movements will be assessed in side-lying position to allow optimal observation of movement control. These standardized positions also facilitate visual feedback and accommodate potential proprioceptive deficits.
The examiner will demonstrate each movement before testing. Children will then be asked to perform the movement independently, and performance wil
Measured: 12 weeks
Balance
Postural stability will be assessed using the Biodex Balance System (BBS), a computerized dynamic platform used to evaluate neuromuscular control and balance performance. The system allows controlled platform movement in anterior-posterior and medial-lateral directions and provides stability indices including the Overall Stability Index (OSI), Anteroposterior Stability Index (APSI), and Mediolateral Stability Index (MLSI), which reflect postural control abilities Prior to testing, each child will undergo a familiarization session to ensure understanding of the procedure and reduce anxiety. During assessment, the child will stand barefoot on the platform in a two-leg stance with arms at the sides. Safety handrails will be adjusted according to height, but children will be instructed not to hold them during testing.
Measured: 12 weeks
Timeline
From the start of the study to its completion; the mark is today. Estimated dates are the sponsor’s plan.
- First posted25 Jun 2026
- Study start25 Jun 2026 (estimated)
- Primary completion25 Sep 2026 (estimated)
- Study completion30 Sep 2026 (estimated)
Resources
- Official record on ClinicalTrials.govThe registry entry this page is built from, with its full change history.
- Other trials for Hemiplegic 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
- Model description
- Participants will be randomly assigned into two parallel groups: a study group receiving conventional physiotherapy combined with unilateral plyometric training applied to the less affected lower limb, and a control group receiving conventional physiotherapy only
- Masking
- Single blind
- Who is masked
- Outcomes assessor
- Enrolment
- 40 participants (estimated)
Sponsor and investigators
- Lead sponsor
- Cairo University
- Sponsor type
- University, hospital or other
- Responsible party
- Principal investigator, Mayada Ghalwash Abdelkarem, Cairo University
IDs, dates and publications
- ClinicalTrials.gov ID
- NCT07669857
- Sponsor's protocol ID
- P.T.REC/012/006103
- Acronym
- PLYO-HCP
- Status last verified
- Jun 2026
- First submitted
- 21 Jun 2026
- Last updated
- 25 Jun 2026
- Results posted
- No
- Data monitoring committee
- No
- FDA-regulated drug
- No
- FDA-regulated device
- No
- Individual data sharing
- No
Study at a glance
From the registry record, last updated by the sponsor on 25 Jun 2026. Recruitment status is as the sponsor reported it: confirm with the study team.
- Official title
- Effect of Plyometric Training Cross Education on Strength, Selective Motor Control and Balance in Children With Hemiplegic Cerebral Palsy
- ClinicalTrials.gov ID
- NCT07669857
- Acronym / sponsor ID
- PLYO-HCP / P.T.REC/012/006103
- Conditions
- Hemiplegic Cerebral Palsy
- Keywords
- Cross-education effect, Hemiplegic cerebral palsy, Plyometric training
- Study type
- Interventional
- Recruitment status
- Not yet recruiting
- Enrolment
- 40 participants (estimated)
- Lead sponsor
- Cairo UniversityUniversity, hospital or other
- Study start
- 25 Jun 2026 (estimated)
- Primary completion
- 25 Sep 2026 (estimated)
- Study completion
- 30 Sep 2026 (estimated)
- First posted
- 25 Jun 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.
The goal of this clinical trial is to evaluate the effect of plyometric training with cross-education on lower limb muscle strength, selective motor control, and balance in children with hemiplegic cerebral palsy (HCP). It will also assess the safety and feasibility of applying this training program in pediatric rehabilitation.
The main questions it aims to answer are:
Does plyometric training with cross-education improve lower limb muscle strength in children with HCP? Does it improve selective motor control in the affected lower limb? Does it improve balance in children with HCP? Researchers will compare a study group receiving conventional physiotherapy plus plyometric training applied to the less affected limb to a control group receiving conventional physiotherapy only.
Participants will:
Receive treatment for 12 weeks (2 sessions per week) Attend regular physiotherapy sessions including stretching, strengthening, balance, and gait training Participate in plyometric exercises (study group only) Be assessed before and after the intervention using standardized tests for muscle strength, selective motor control, and balance
Detailed description
This study will be conducted as a randomized controlled clinical trial to investigate the effect of unilateral plyometric training with cross-education on lower limb muscle strength, selective motor control, and balance in children with hemiplegic cerebral palsy (HCP).
Hemiplegic cerebral palsy is a non-progressive neurological disorder caused by early brain injury, resulting in unilateral motor impairment, muscle weakness, and balance dysfunction. The cross-education effect refers to the transfer of strength and motor improvements from a trained limb to the contralateral untrained limb, primarily mediated by central neural mechanisms.
A total of forty children diagnosed with HCP will be recruited from outpatient pediatric clinics affiliated with the Faculty of Physical Therapy, Cairo University. Eligible participants will be randomly allocated into two equal groups.
The study group will receive a conventional pediatric physiotherapy program combined with a structured progressive plyometric training program applied exclusively to the less affected lower limb. The control group will receive only the conventional physiotherapy program, which includes stretching exercises, active and resistive range of motion exercises, balance training, and gait training.
The intervention will be carried out over a period of twelve weeks, with two sessions per week, each lasting approximately one hour. The plyometric training will be designed to progressively challenge neuromuscular performance through exercises involving the stretch-shortening cycle, while the conventional program will focus on functional motor rehabilitation.
Allocation will be performed using a computer-generated block randomization method, and concealment will be ensured using sealed opaque envelopes. The study will adhere to CONSORT guidelines for randomized controlled trials to ensure methodological rigor and transparency.
Outcome measures will be assessed at baseline and post-intervention using standardized and validated tools to evaluate changes in muscle strength, selective motor control, and balance. Data analysis will be performed to determine the effectiveness of the intervention.
Study design
- Primary purpose
- Treatment
- Allocation
- Randomised
- Intervention model
- Parallel groups
- Masking
- Single blind (outcomes assessor)
- Number of arms
- 2
- Model description
- Participants will be randomly assigned into two parallel groups: a study group receiving conventional physiotherapy combined with unilateral plyometric training applied to the less affected lower limb, and a control group receiving conventional physiotherapy only
| Arm | Type | Receives |
|---|---|---|
| Study Group | Experimental | Other: Conventional Physiotherapy, Other: Plyometric training |
| Control group | Active comparator | Other: Conventional Physiotherapy |
Who may qualify
- Ages
- 6 to 10 years
- Sex
- All
- Healthy volunteers
- Not accepted
- Age groups
- Child
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 |
|---|---|---|
| Conventional PhysiotherapyStretching, strengthening, balance, and gait training program. | Other | Control group, Study Group |
| Plyometric trainingThe plyometric training program will be applied to the less affected lower limb and is designed to enhance neuromuscular performance, explosive strength, proprioception, and motor coordination through rapid eccentric-concentric muscle actions. Each training session will begin with a 5-minute warm-up to prepare the child physically and psychologically for exercise. The main training phase will include progressive plyometric exercises targeting lower limb function. A 5-minute cool-down period will be performed at the end of each session to promote muscle relaxation and reduce fatigue | Other | Study Group |
Primary outcome
Lower Limb Muscle Strength
Time frame: 12 weeks
Lower limb muscle strength will be assessed in the more affected limb using a hand-held dynamometer (HHD). Quadriceps and hamstring muscle groups will be tested. The "make test" will be used to measure maximal isometric muscle strength. Each child will be instructed to gradually generate maximal force over approximately 5 seconds while maintaining a fixed joint position to avoid compensatory movements. The dynamometer will be stabilized and resistance applied via an ankle cuff positioned above the malleoli. Each muscle group will be tested three times, with 30 seconds rest between trials. The average of the three maximal voluntary contractions will be recorded as the final value. Standardized positioning and verbal encouragement will be used to ensure maximal effort
Selective Motor Control (SMC)
Time frame: 12 weeks
Selective motor control of the lower limb will be assessed using the Selective Control Assessment of the Lower Extremity (SCALE), which is a simple clinical tool that can be completed in less than 15 minutes and does not require special equipment (Fowler et al., 2009). The SCALE will be used to evaluate selective voluntary motor control at five joints of the lower limb including the hip, knee, ankle, subtalar joint, and toes on both sides. For each joint, a representative movement that is independent of typical synergistic flexor or extensor patterns will be selected. Most assessments will be performed in sitting position, while hip movements will be assessed in side-lying position to allow optimal observation of movement control. These standardized positions also facilitate visual feedback and accommodate potential proprioceptive deficits. The examiner will demonstrate each movement before testing. Children will then be asked to perform the movement independently, and performance wil
Balance
Time frame: 12 weeks
Postural stability will be assessed using the Biodex Balance System (BBS), a computerized dynamic platform used to evaluate neuromuscular control and balance performance. The system allows controlled platform movement in anterior-posterior and medial-lateral directions and provides stability indices including the Overall Stability Index (OSI), Anteroposterior Stability Index (APSI), and Mediolateral Stability Index (MLSI), which reflect postural control abilities Prior to testing, each child will undergo a familiarization session to ensure understanding of the procedure and reduce anxiety. During assessment, the child will stand barefoot on the platform in a two-leg stance with arms at the sides. Safety handrails will be adjusted according to height, but children will be instructed not to hold them during testing.
Results and safety
This study is still under way. Results are not available in the source record yet.
Research links
- Official record on ClinicalTrials.govLast updated by the sponsor 25 Jun 2026.
- Individual participant dataSharing planned: No
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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.
3 sites in 1 country: see every site and its status.
Questions about this trial
What is this clinical trial studying?
A study testing Conventional Physiotherapy and Plyometric training in people with Hemiplegic Cerebral Palsy, run by Cairo University at 3 sites in Egypt.
The full registered description is in the About this study section and the official record.
Who may be eligible to take part?
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: opening soon, as of the sponsor's last update on 25 Jun 2026. Status can change between updates, so confirm with the study contact before making plans.
Where is the study taking place?
The record lists 3 sites 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?
This study is still under way. Results are not available in the source record yet.
How can a doctor refer a patient or contact the research team?
Contact Mayada Ghalwash Abdelkarem (0201556950163, mayada.khedr59@gmail.com), or a site near the patient. AzTrials does not enrol participants or take referrals.
What does the primary outcome measure?
Lower Limb Muscle Strength (time frame: 12 weeks). The study lists 3 primary outcomes in all. It is what the study was designed to measure, not a finding.
Where can I read the original study information?
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 25 Jun 2026.