Cerebral PalsyNCT07673289
Comparative Effect of CIMT and PNFTechnique on Hands Dexterity in Cerebral Palsy
A study testing Constraint-Induced Movement Therapy and Proprioceptive Neuromuscular Facilitation Therapy in people with Cerebral Palsy, run by Riphah International University at 1 site in Pakistan.
Trial summary
Cerebral Palsy (CP) is a group of permanent disorders of the development of movement and posture, causing activity limitations that are attributed to non-progressive disturbances that occurred in the developing fetal or infant brain. Read more about this study
- Who is it for?
- Ages 8 to 13 years
- Conditions the study is for
- Cerebral Palsy
- What is being tested?
- Constraint-Induced Movement Therapy and Proprioceptive Neuromuscular Facilitation Therapy
- Type of treatment
- Lifestyle or therapy programme
- Could I receive a placebo?
- No, everyone receives an active treatment
- How many people
- 26 participants
- Where
- 1 sitePakistan
- Study dates
- 11 Jan 2026to 1 Jul 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 8 to 13 years
- All sexes
- No healthy volunteers
- Child
Who may be able to join
- 8 to 13 years of age
- Both male and female
- Children with moderate level of mental retardation who are able to follow commands
Who cannot join
- Children with other musculoskeletal and neurological issues.
- Children who have complications such as epilepsy, congenital heart condition
Trial locations and contacts
1 site in 1 country. Contact the study team or a site near you to ask about taking part.
Pakistan1 site, 1 recruiting
- Recruiting
Baloch Hospital
Lalian, Punjab Province
Dr. Riaz Baloch, MBBS, 03008707404, riazbaloch099@gmail.com
About this study
Official title: Comparative Effect of Constraint Induced Movement Therapy and Proprioceptive Neuromuscular Facilitation Technique on Hands Dexterity in Cerebral Palsy
Cerebral Palsy (CP) is a group of permanent disorders of the development of movement and posture, causing activity limitations that are attributed to non-progressive disturbances that occurred in the developing fetal or infant brain. The primary motor impairments in CP often include issues with muscle tone, reflexes, and coordination. Among the various motor disorders associated with CP, impairment of the upper extremities is particularly common and functionally debilitating. Specifically, reduced hand dexterity the ability to perform coordinated, fine motor tasks significantly impacts a child's independence in daily activities such as feeding, dressing, and school-related tasks like writing. Therefore, improving hand function is a critical goal in physiotherapy for this population The objective of this study was to compare the effectiveness of a constraint induced movement therapy ( CIMT ) and Proprioceptive neuromuscular facilitation technique on dexterous movement of hands in cerebral palsy .The study design will be Randomized Controlled Trail. The study setting will be Pediatric Rehabilitation Center or Physiotherapy Department. The duration of study will be 10 months after approval of synopsis. The sample size will be 20 which is calculated by epitools. The sampling technique will be Non-probability convenient sampling . Children who are diagnosed with cerebral palsy will be included. Children with other musculoskeletal and neurological issues will be excluded. Data Collection Tools will be Box and Block test and Pediatric Evaluation of Disability Inventory.. The data will be analyzed using SPSS 23.
Keyword Cerebral Palsy, Constraint induced movement therapy (CIMT), dexterous movement, Proprioceptive neuromuscular facilitation
- Conditions
- Cerebral Palsy
- Being tested
- Constraint-Induced Movement Therapy, Proprioceptive Neuromuscular Facilitation Therapy
- Keywords
- Cerebral Palsy, Constraint induced movement therapy
- Medical subject headings
- Cerebral Palsy
What participants receive
What participants receive. In a randomised study each person is assigned to one group by chance.
Constraint-Induced Movement TherapyBehavioural
In Group A, participants underwent Constraint-Induced Movement Therapy (CIMT) alongside conventional physical therapy, conducted five days a week for two hours daily (excluding weekends). This therapy encouraged the active use of the affected upper limb while immobilizing the unaffected limb with a mitt or sling. The aim was to improve motor recovery by combating "learned non-use." Participants engaged in repetitive, task-oriented activities tailored to their skills, such as reaching, grabbing, lifting, and handling objects of various weights and sizes. Fine motor skills exercises, like buttoning, writing, and stacking blocks, were included, progressively increasing in difficulty to enhance the application of these skills in daily activities.Therapists observed participants, provided feedback, and ensured the correct execution of movements, utilizing intense practice and molding techniques.
Proprioceptive Neuromuscular Facilitation TherapyBehavioural
Group B received Proprioceptive Neuromuscular Facilitation (PNF) therapy, each session lasting 1.5 hours per day. The PNF approach aimed to enhance functional motor abilities,reduce stiffness, and activate neuromuscular responses. Treatment included diagonal and spiral movement patterns involving the wrist, elbow, and shoulder joints, adhering to a "stretch, contract, and relax" protocol. This protocol involved passively stretching the limb, followed by isometric contractions lasting 10 seconds. Repeated stretching of hypertonic muscles and isotonic or eccentric movements helped alleviate spasticity and improve flexibility. Therapists provided verbal and tactile cues to guide correct movements and enhance muscular coordination. Assessments of spasticity and functional motor abilities were conducted after given time of intervention
| Study group | Role | What they receive |
|---|---|---|
| Constraint-Induced Movement Therapy Group | Experimental | participants underwent Constraint-Induced Movement Therapy (CIMT) alongside conventional physical therapy, conducted five days a week for two hours daily (excluding weekends). This therapy encouraged the active use of the affected upper limb while immobilizing the unaffected limb with a mitt or sling. The aim was to improve motor recovery by combating "learned non-use." Participants engaged in repetitive, task-oriented activities tailored to their skills, such as reaching, grabbing, lifting, and handling objects of various weights and sizes. Fine motor skills exercises, like buttoning, writing, and stacking blocks, were included, progressively increasing in difficulty to enhance the application of these skills in daily activities.Therapists observed participants, provided feedback, and ensured the correct execution of movements, utilizing intense practice and molding techniques. Receives: Behavioral: Constraint-Induced Movement Therapy |
| Proprioceptive Neuromuscular Facilitation Therapy Group | Experimental | Group B received Proprioceptive Neuromuscular Facilitation (PNF) therapy, each session lasting 1.5 hours per day. The PNF approach aimed to enhance functional motor abilities,reduce stiffness, and activate neuromuscular responses. Treatment included diagonal and spiral movement patterns involving the wrist, elbow, and shoulder joints, adhering to a "stretch, contract, and relax" protocol. This protocol involved passively stretching the limb, followed by isometric contractions lasting 10 seconds. Repeated stretching of hypertonic muscles and isotonic or eccentric movements helped alleviate spasticity and improve flexibility. Therapists provided verbal and tactile cues to guide correct movements and enhance muscular coordination. Assessments of spasticity and functional motor abilities were conducted after given time of intervention Receives: Behavioral: Proprioceptive Neuromuscular Facilitation Therapy |
What is being measured
The primary outcome is the main question the study is designed to answer.
Box and Block test
This test is used to measure manual dexterity. This test is simple, cheap and quick. The test can be used for different populations to assess the coordinated movements of the hands. The test-retest reliability on more weak hand is 0.98 and the less weak hand is 0.93. It has good convergent validity as the value is 0.80
Measured: 6 weeks
Action Research Arm Test
The Action Research Arm Test (ARAT) was used, assessing grasp, grip, pinch, and general movement with a score range of 0-57, where higher scores indicated improved motor function. The ARAT demonstrated high test-retest reliability (r = 0.98).
Measured: 6 weeks
Timeline
From the start of the study to its completion; the mark is today. Estimated dates are the sponsor’s plan.
- First posted29 Jun 2026
- Study start11 Jan 2026
- Primary completion25 Jun 2026 (estimated)
- Study completion1 Jul 2026 (estimated)
Resources
- Official record on ClinicalTrials.govThe registry entry this page is built from, with its full change history.
- Other trials for Cerebral PalsyStudies of the same condition, open and under way.
- More trials run by Riphah International 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
- Outcomes assessor
- Enrolment
- 26 participants (estimated)
Sponsor and investigators
- Lead sponsor
- Riphah International University
- Sponsor type
- University, hospital or other
- Responsible party
- Sponsor
- Investigators
- Riaz Baloch, MBBS, Principal investigator, Riphah International University
IDs, dates and publications
- ClinicalTrials.gov ID
- NCT07673289
- Sponsor's protocol ID
- REC/RCR & AHS/25/0222
- Status last verified
- Jun 2026
- First submitted
- 23 Jun 2026
- Last updated
- 29 Jun 2026
- Results posted
- No
- Data monitoring committee
- Yes
- 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 29 Jun 2026. Recruitment status is as the sponsor reported it: confirm with the study team.
- Official title
- Comparative Effect of Constraint Induced Movement Therapy and Proprioceptive Neuromuscular Facilitation Technique on Hands Dexterity in Cerebral Palsy
- ClinicalTrials.gov ID
- NCT07673289
- Acronym / sponsor ID
- REC/RCR & AHS/25/0222
- Conditions
- Cerebral Palsy
- Keywords
- Cerebral Palsy, Constraint induced movement therapy
- Study type
- Interventional
- Recruitment status
- Recruiting
- Enrolment
- 26 participants (estimated)
- Lead sponsor
- Riphah International UniversityUniversity, hospital or other
- Study start
- 11 Jan 2026 (actual)
- Primary completion
- 25 Jun 2026 (estimated)
- Study completion
- 1 Jul 2026 (estimated)
- First posted
- 29 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.
Cerebral Palsy (CP) is a group of permanent disorders of the development of movement and posture, causing activity limitations that are attributed to non-progressive disturbances that occurred in the developing fetal or infant brain. The primary motor impairments in CP often include issues with muscle tone, reflexes, and coordination. Among the various motor disorders associated with CP, impairment of the upper extremities is particularly common and functionally debilitating. Specifically, reduced hand dexterity the ability to perform coordinated, fine motor tasks significantly impacts a child's independence in daily activities such as feeding, dressing, and school-related tasks like writing. Therefore, improving hand function is a critical goal in physiotherapy for this population The objective of this study was to compare the effectiveness of a constraint induced movement therapy ( CIMT ) and Proprioceptive neuromuscular facilitation technique on dexterous movement of hands in cerebral palsy .The study design will be Randomized Controlled Trail. The study setting will be Pediatric Rehabilitation Center or Physiotherapy Department. The duration of study will be 10 months after approval of synopsis. The sample size will be 20 which is calculated by epitools. The sampling technique will be Non-probability convenient sampling . Children who are diagnosed with cerebral palsy will be included. Children with other musculoskeletal and neurological issues will be excluded. Data Collection Tools will be Box and Block test and Pediatric Evaluation of Disability Inventory.. The data will be analyzed using SPSS 23.
Keyword Cerebral Palsy, Constraint induced movement therapy (CIMT), dexterous movement, Proprioceptive neuromuscular facilitation
Study design
- Primary purpose
- Treatment
- Allocation
- Randomised
- Intervention model
- Parallel groups
- Masking
- Single blind (outcomes assessor)
- Number of arms
- 2
| Arm | Type | Receives |
|---|---|---|
| Constraint-Induced Movement Therapy Group | Experimental | Behavioral: Constraint-Induced Movement Therapyparticipants underwent Constraint-Induced Movement Therapy (CIMT) alongside conventional physical therapy, conducted five days a week for two hours daily (excluding weekends). This therapy encouraged the active use of the affected upper limb while immobilizing the unaffected limb with a mitt or sling. The aim was to improve motor recovery by combating "learned non-use." Participants engaged in repetitive, task-oriented activities tailored to their skills, such as reaching, grabbing, lifting, and handling objects of various weights and sizes. Fine motor skills exercises, like buttoning, writing, and stacking blocks, were included, progressively increasing in difficulty to enhance the application of these skills in daily activities.Therapists observed participants, provided feedback, and ensured the correct execution of movements, utilizing intense practice and molding techniques. |
| Proprioceptive Neuromuscular Facilitation Therapy Group | Experimental | Behavioral: Proprioceptive Neuromuscular Facilitation TherapyGroup B received Proprioceptive Neuromuscular Facilitation (PNF) therapy, each session lasting 1.5 hours per day. The PNF approach aimed to enhance functional motor abilities,reduce stiffness, and activate neuromuscular responses. Treatment included diagonal and spiral movement patterns involving the wrist, elbow, and shoulder joints, adhering to a "stretch, contract, and relax" protocol. This protocol involved passively stretching the limb, followed by isometric contractions lasting 10 seconds. Repeated stretching of hypertonic muscles and isotonic or eccentric movements helped alleviate spasticity and improve flexibility. Therapists provided verbal and tactile cues to guide correct movements and enhance muscular coordination. Assessments of spasticity and functional motor abilities were conducted after given time of intervention |
Who may qualify
- Ages
- 8 to 13 years
- Sex
- All
- Healthy volunteers
- Not accepted
- Age groups
- Child
Key inclusion criteria (3 listed)
- 8 to 13 years of age
- Both male and female
- Children with moderate level of mental retardation who are able to follow commands
Key exclusion criteria (2 listed)
- Children with other musculoskeletal and neurological issues.
- Children who have complications such as epilepsy, congenital heart condition
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 |
|---|---|---|
| Constraint-Induced Movement TherapyIn Group A, participants underwent Constraint-Induced Movement Therapy (CIMT) alongside conventional physical therapy, conducted five days a week for two hours daily (excluding weekends). This therapy encouraged the active use of the affected upper limb while immobilizing the unaffected limb with a mitt or sling. The aim was to improve motor recovery by combating "learned non-use." Participants engaged in repetitive, task-oriented activities tailored to their skills, such as reaching, grabbing, lifting, and handling objects of various weights and sizes. Fine motor skills exercises, like buttoning, writing, and stacking blocks, were included, progressively increasing in difficulty to enhance the application of these skills in daily activities.Therapists observed participants, provided feedback, and ensured the correct execution of movements, utilizing intense practice and molding techniques. | Behavioural | Constraint-Induced Movement Therapy Group |
| Proprioceptive Neuromuscular Facilitation TherapyGroup B received Proprioceptive Neuromuscular Facilitation (PNF) therapy, each session lasting 1.5 hours per day. The PNF approach aimed to enhance functional motor abilities,reduce stiffness, and activate neuromuscular responses. Treatment included diagonal and spiral movement patterns involving the wrist, elbow, and shoulder joints, adhering to a "stretch, contract, and relax" protocol. This protocol involved passively stretching the limb, followed by isometric contractions lasting 10 seconds. Repeated stretching of hypertonic muscles and isotonic or eccentric movements helped alleviate spasticity and improve flexibility. Therapists provided verbal and tactile cues to guide correct movements and enhance muscular coordination. Assessments of spasticity and functional motor abilities were conducted after given time of intervention | Behavioural | Proprioceptive Neuromuscular Facilitation Therapy Group |
Primary outcome
Box and Block test
Time frame: 6 weeks
This test is used to measure manual dexterity. This test is simple, cheap and quick. The test can be used for different populations to assess the coordinated movements of the hands. The test-retest reliability on more weak hand is 0.98 and the less weak hand is 0.93. It has good convergent validity as the value is 0.80
Action Research Arm Test
Time frame: 6 weeks
The Action Research Arm Test (ARAT) was used, assessing grasp, grip, pinch, and general movement with a score range of 0-57, where higher scores indicated improved motor function. The ARAT demonstrated high test-retest reliability (r = 0.98).
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 29 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.
Riaz Baloch, MBBS principal investigator
Riphah International University
1 site in 1 country: see every site and its status.
Questions about this trial
What is this clinical trial studying?
A study testing Constraint-Induced Movement Therapy and Proprioceptive Neuromuscular Facilitation Therapy in people with Cerebral Palsy, run by Riphah International University at 1 site in Pakistan.
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 3 inclusion and 2 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: looking for participants now, as of the sponsor's last update on 29 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 1 site in Pakistan. 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 Danish Hassan (+923457946009, danish.hassan@riphah.edu.pk), or a site near the patient. AzTrials does not enrol participants or take referrals.
What does the primary outcome measure?
Box and Block test (time frame: 6 weeks). The study lists 2 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 29 Jun 2026.