Cerebral Palsy (CP)ISTTvsVTNCT07729124
Parental Experiences of Home-Based Intensive Segmental Trunk Training in Children With Cerebral Palsy
A study testing Home-Based Intensive Segmental Trunk Training (ISTT) in people with Cerebral Palsy (CP) and Home-based Rehabilitation, run by Iqra Khan at 1 site in Pakistan.
Trial summary
The goal of this feasibility study is to evaluate the adherence, parental experiences, and perceptions of a home-based Intensive Segmental Trunk Training (ISTT) program for children aged 4-12 with spastic diplegic cerebral palsy (CP) in Pakistan. Read more about this study
- Who is it for?
- Ages 4 to 12 years
- Conditions the study is for
- Cerebral Palsy (CP), Home-based Rehabilitation, Home-based Programs
- What is being tested?
- Home-Based Intensive Segmental Trunk Training (ISTT)
- Could I receive a placebo?
- No, everyone receives an active treatment
- How many people
- 20 participants
- Where
- 1 sitePakistan
- Study dates
- 12 Apr 2025to 10 Apr 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 4 to 12 years
- All sexes
- No healthy volunteers
- Child
Who may be able to join
- Children aged 4-12 years with a confirmed diagnosis of spastic diplegic cerebral palsy
- Gross Motor Function Classification System (GMFCS) levels II-IV
- Primary caregiver (mother or father) willing to commit to the 12-week program
- Caregiver had access to a smartphone with video-calling capability
- Caregiver able to understand and follow instructions in Urdu or English
Who cannot join
- Children with uncontrolled seizures
- Children who had undergone orthopedic surgery or botulinum toxin injections in the lower extremities within the previous 6 months
- Children with severe visual or hearing impairments that would interfere with participation
- Caregivers with a diagnosed physical or mental health condition that would prevent them from safely delivering the home-based program
Trial locations and contacts
1 site in 1 country.
Pakistan1 site
Pediatric Physical Therapy and Neurorehabilitation Department at the University of Lahore Teaching Hospital
Lahore, Punjab Province, 54000
About this study
Official title: Parental Experiences of Home-Based Intensive Segmental Trunk Training in Children With Cerebral Palsy: A Feasibility Study
The goal of this feasibility study is to evaluate the adherence, parental experiences, and perceptions of a home-based Intensive Segmental Trunk Training (ISTT) program for children aged 4-12 with spastic diplegic cerebral palsy (CP) in Pakistan. The main questions it aims to answer are:
What is the rate of caregiver adherence to a home-based ISTT program over 12 weeks? What are the primary barriers, experiences, and perceptions of caregivers implementing the program? What are the preliminary signals of clinical effectiveness on trunk control and gross motor function? Researchers will compare pre- and post-intervention outcomes (baseline vs. week 12) to see if there are statistically significant improvements in trunk control (measured by SATCo) and gross motor function (measured by GMFM-88).
Read more
Participants (20 primary caregivers and their children) will:
Attend an initial in-person orientation session to learn trunk stabilization exercises from a senior pediatric physical therapist Complete a 12-week home-based ISTT program with weekly tele-supervision video calls to monitor progress and address challenges Attend monthly face-to-face monitoring visits at the hospital for clinical assessment and technique reinforcement Complete a KABA (Knowledge, Attitudes, Barriers, and Adherence) survey at baseline and week 12 Participate in a semi-structured interview at the end of the 12-week program to share their experiences.
Read the detailed description
This single-arm feasibility study was conducted at a hospital in Lahore, Pakistan, to investigate parental experiences and adherence to a home-based Intensive Segmental Trunk Training (ISTT) program for children with spastic diplegic cerebral palsy (CP).
Background: Trunk control is a fundamental prerequisite for gross motor function, postural stability, and functional mobility in children with CP. Conventional clinic-based rehabilitation in Pakistan faces significant challenges including transportation barriers, high costs, and limited access to specialized pediatric physical therapy services, resulting in poor adherence and suboptimal outcomes. Home-based, caregiver-delivered programs offer a promising alternative, but evidence is limited on their feasibility and acceptability in low-resource settings.
Intervention: The ISTT program is a structured, progressive trunk stabilization protocol targeting segmental control of the cervical, upper thoracic, lower thoracic, and lumbar regions of the spine. The 12-week intervention was delivered through a hybrid model:
Week 1: In-person orientation and training session at the hospital, where a senior pediatric physical therapist taught caregivers the exercise protocol, including proper positioning, facilitation techniques, and progression criteria using both verbal instruction and practical demonstration.
Weeks 1-12: Daily home-based sessions (approximately 30 minutes), guided by a library of pre-recorded instructional videos and a picture-based manual developed specifically for this program. Exercises progressed from supported to unsupported positions and from static to dynamic tasks.
Weekly tele-supervision: Synchronous video calls between the therapist and caregiver to monitor progress, correct technique, address barriers, and adjust exercise difficulty as needed.
Monthly in-person visits: Face-to-face monitoring at the hospital for clinical reassessment, technique refinement, and reinforcement of training principles.
Participants: Twenty primary caregivers (mothers or fathers) of children aged 4-12 years with a confirmed diagnosis of spastic diplegic CP, classified at Gross Motor Function Classification System (GMFCS) levels II-IV, who were willing to commit to the 12-week program and had access to a smartphone with video-calling capability.
Outcome Measures:
Primary outcomes:
Adherence rate (percentage of prescribed sessions completed over 12 weeks) Caregiver experiences and perceptions (assessed via the KABA [Knowledge, Attitudes, Barriers, and Adherence] survey administered at baseline and week 12, and a semi-structured qualitative interview at study completion)
Secondary outcomes (pre-post comparison):
Trunk control measured by the Segmental Assessment of Trunk Control (SATCo) Gross motor function measured by the Gross Motor Function Measure-88 (GMFM-88)
- Conditions
- Cerebral Palsy (CP), Home-based Rehabilitation, Home-based Programs, Postural Control, Perceptions, Telerehabilitation
- Being tested
- Home-Based Intensive Segmental Trunk Training (ISTT)
- Keywords
- Cerebral Palsy, Home care services, Motor Skills, Patient adherence, Postural balance, Tele-support therapy, Tele Rehabilitation
- Medical subject headings
- Cerebral Palsy, Patient Compliance
What participants receive
What participants receive. In a randomised study each person is assigned to one group by chance.
Home-Based Intensive Segmental Trunk Training (ISTT)Other
Also called Home-based trunk stabilization program, caregiver-delivered ISTT
A 12-week structured, progressive trunk stabilization protocol targeting segmental control of the cervical, upper thoracic, lower thoracic, and lumbar regions of the spine. The program consisted of daily home-based sessions (approximately 30 minutes per session), guided by pre-recorded instructional videos and a picture-based manual developed specifically for this study. Exercises progressed from supported to unsupported positions and from static to dynamic tasks. Caregivers received an initial in-person orientation session at a hospital, followed by weekly tele-supervision video calls with a senior pediatric physical therapist to monitor progress, correct technique, address barriers, and adjust exercise difficulty. Monthly face-to-face monitoring visits were conducted at the hospital for clinical reassessment and reinforcement of training principles.
| Study group | Role | What they receive |
|---|---|---|
| Home-Based Intensive segmental Trunk Training Program | Experimental | All 20 caregiver-child dyads received a 12-week home-based Intensive Segmental Trunk Training (ISTT) program. The intervention included an initial in-person orientation session, daily home-based trunk stabilization exercises guided by pre-recorded instructional videos and a picture-based manual, weekly tele-supervision video calls with a pediatric physical therapist, and monthly face-to-face monitoring visits at the hospital. No control, placebo, or sham comparator arm was included in this feasibility study. Receives: Other: Home-Based Intensive Segmental Trunk Training (ISTT) |
What is being measured
The primary outcome is the main question the study is designed to answer.
Adherence Rate
Percentage of prescribed home-based ISTT sessions completed by caregivers over the 12-week intervention period, calculated as (number of sessions completed / number of sessions prescribed) × 100. Adherence was cross-validated through caregiver self-report and observation during weekly tele-supervision video calls.
Measured: Week 12 (end of intervention)
Caregiver Experiences and Perceptions (Qualitative)
Measured using a semi-structured qualitative interview conducted at the end of the intervention to explore caregivers' experiences, challenges, and perceived benefits of the home-based program.
Measured: Week 12 (semi-structured interview)
Caregiver Knowledge, Attitudes and Barriers
Measured using the KABA (Knowledge, Attitudes, Barriers, and Adherence) survey, administered at baseline and Week 12, to assess caregivers' knowledge, attitudes, and perceived barriers to the home-based Intensive Segmental Trunk Training program.
Measured: Baseline and Week 12
Secondary outcomes (2)
Segmental Assessment Trunk Control (SATCo)
Segmental Assessment of Trunk Control (SATCo) evaluates segmental trunk control across cervical, upper thoracic, lower thoracic, and lumbar regions. Scores range from 0 to 20, with higher scores indicating better trunk control.
Measured: Baseline and Week 12
Gross Motor Function Measure-88 (GMFM-88)
Gross Motor Function Measure-88, a standardized observational instrument assessing gross motor function across five dimensions (lying and rolling; sitting; crawling and kneeling; standing; walking, running, and jumping). Scores range from 0 to 100, with higher scores indicating better gross motor function.
Measured: Baseline and Week 12
Timeline
From the start of the study to its completion; the mark is today. Estimated dates are the sponsor’s plan.
- First posted27 Jul 2026
- Study start12 Apr 2025
- Primary completion10 Oct 2025
- Study completion10 Apr 2026
Resources
- Official record on ClinicalTrials.govThe registry entry this page is built from, with its full change history.
- Other trials for Cerebral Palsy (CP)Studies of the same condition, open and under way.
- 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
- Supportive care
- Allocation
- Not applicable
- Intervention model
- Single group
- Model description
- This was a single-arm, open-label feasibility study with no control group or comparator arm. All 20 caregiver-child dyads received the same home-based Intensive Segmental Trunk Training (ISTT) program over 12 weeks. Outcomes were measured at baseline and at the end of the 12-week intervention period (pre-post design). There was no randomization, no parallel group, and no crossover of interventions.
- Masking
- None (open label)
- Enrolment
- 20 participants (actual)
Sponsor and investigators
- Lead sponsor
- Iqra Khan
- Sponsor type
- University, hospital or other
- Collaborators
- University of Lahore
- Responsible party
- Sponsor-investigator, Iqra Khan, University of Lahore
- Investigators
- Ashfaq Ahmad, PhD, Study chair, University of Lahore
IDs, dates and publications
- ClinicalTrials.gov ID
- NCT07729124
- Sponsor's protocol ID
- UOL/IREB/26/21.1/01/02
- Acronym
- ISTTvsVT
- Status last verified
- Jul 2026
- First submitted
- 18 Jul 2026
- Last updated
- 27 Jul 2026
- Results posted
- No
- Data monitoring committee
- Yes
- FDA-regulated drug
- No
- FDA-regulated device
- No
- Individual data sharing
- No: This was a small feasibility study conducted at a single center with a limited sample size (n = 20). Individual participant data are not planned for sharing due to confidentiality considerations and the feasibility nature of the study protocol.
Study at a glance
From the registry record, last updated by the sponsor on 27 Jul 2026. Recruitment status is as the sponsor reported it: confirm with the study team.
- Official title
- Parental Experiences of Home-Based Intensive Segmental Trunk Training in Children With Cerebral Palsy: A Feasibility Study
- ClinicalTrials.gov ID
- NCT07729124
- Acronym / sponsor ID
- ISTTvsVT / UOL/IREB/26/21.1/01/02
- Conditions
- Cerebral Palsy (CP), Home-based Rehabilitation, Home-based Programs, Postural Control, Perceptions, Telerehabilitation
- Keywords
- Cerebral Palsy, Home care services, Motor Skills, Patient adherence, Postural balance, Tele-support therapy, Tele Rehabilitation
- Study type
- Interventional
- Recruitment status
- Completed
- Enrolment
- 20 participants (actual)
- Lead sponsor
- Iqra KhanUniversity, hospital or other
- Collaborators
- University of Lahore
- Study start
- 12 Apr 2025 (actual)
- Primary completion
- 10 Oct 2025 (actual)
- Study completion
- 10 Apr 2026 (actual)
- First posted
- 27 Jul 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 feasibility study is to evaluate the adherence, parental experiences, and perceptions of a home-based Intensive Segmental Trunk Training (ISTT) program for children aged 4-12 with spastic diplegic cerebral palsy (CP) in Pakistan. The main questions it aims to answer are:
What is the rate of caregiver adherence to a home-based ISTT program over 12 weeks? What are the primary barriers, experiences, and perceptions of caregivers implementing the program? What are the preliminary signals of clinical effectiveness on trunk control and gross motor function? Researchers will compare pre- and post-intervention outcomes (baseline vs. week 12) to see if there are statistically significant improvements in trunk control (measured by SATCo) and gross motor function (measured by GMFM-88).
Participants (20 primary caregivers and their children) will:
Attend an initial in-person orientation session to learn trunk stabilization exercises from a senior pediatric physical therapist Complete a 12-week home-based ISTT program with weekly tele-supervision video calls to monitor progress and address challenges Attend monthly face-to-face monitoring visits at the hospital for clinical assessment and technique reinforcement Complete a KABA (Knowledge, Attitudes, Barriers, and Adherence) survey at baseline and week 12 Participate in a semi-structured interview at the end of the 12-week program to share their experiences.
Detailed description
This single-arm feasibility study was conducted at a hospital in Lahore, Pakistan, to investigate parental experiences and adherence to a home-based Intensive Segmental Trunk Training (ISTT) program for children with spastic diplegic cerebral palsy (CP).
Background: Trunk control is a fundamental prerequisite for gross motor function, postural stability, and functional mobility in children with CP. Conventional clinic-based rehabilitation in Pakistan faces significant challenges including transportation barriers, high costs, and limited access to specialized pediatric physical therapy services, resulting in poor adherence and suboptimal outcomes. Home-based, caregiver-delivered programs offer a promising alternative, but evidence is limited on their feasibility and acceptability in low-resource settings.
Intervention: The ISTT program is a structured, progressive trunk stabilization protocol targeting segmental control of the cervical, upper thoracic, lower thoracic, and lumbar regions of the spine. The 12-week intervention was delivered through a hybrid model:
Week 1: In-person orientation and training session at the hospital, where a senior pediatric physical therapist taught caregivers the exercise protocol, including proper positioning, facilitation techniques, and progression criteria using both verbal instruction and practical demonstration.
Weeks 1-12: Daily home-based sessions (approximately 30 minutes), guided by a library of pre-recorded instructional videos and a picture-based manual developed specifically for this program. Exercises progressed from supported to unsupported positions and from static to dynamic tasks.
Weekly tele-supervision: Synchronous video calls between the therapist and caregiver to monitor progress, correct technique, address barriers, and adjust exercise difficulty as needed.
Monthly in-person visits: Face-to-face monitoring at the hospital for clinical reassessment, technique refinement, and reinforcement of training principles.
Participants: Twenty primary caregivers (mothers or fathers) of children aged 4-12 years with a confirmed diagnosis of spastic diplegic CP, classified at Gross Motor Function Classification System (GMFCS) levels II-IV, who were willing to commit to the 12-week program and had access to a smartphone with video-calling capability.
Outcome Measures:
Primary outcomes:
Adherence rate (percentage of prescribed sessions completed over 12 weeks) Caregiver experiences and perceptions (assessed via the KABA [Knowledge, Attitudes, Barriers, and Adherence] survey administered at baseline and week 12, and a semi-structured qualitative interview at study completion)
Secondary outcomes (pre-post comparison):
Trunk control measured by the Segmental Assessment of Trunk Control (SATCo) Gross motor function measured by the Gross Motor Function Measure-88 (GMFM-88)
Study design
- Primary purpose
- Supportive care
- Allocation
- Not applicable
- Intervention model
- Single group
- Masking
- None (open label)
- Number of arms
- 1
- Model description
- This was a single-arm, open-label feasibility study with no control group or comparator arm. All 20 caregiver-child dyads received the same home-based Intensive Segmental Trunk Training (ISTT) program over 12 weeks. Outcomes were measured at baseline and at the end of the 12-week intervention period (pre-post design). There was no randomization, no parallel group, and no crossover of interventions.
| Arm | Type | Receives |
|---|---|---|
| Home-Based Intensive segmental Trunk Training Program | Experimental | Other: Home-Based Intensive Segmental Trunk Training (ISTT)All 20 caregiver-child dyads received a 12-week home-based Intensive Segmental Trunk Training (ISTT) program. The intervention included an initial in-person orientation session, daily home-based trunk stabilization exercises guided by pre-recorded instructional videos and a picture-based manual, weekly tele-supervision video calls with a pediatric physical therapist, and monthly face-to-face monitoring visits at the hospital. No control, placebo, or sham comparator arm was included in this feasibility study. |
Who may qualify
- Ages
- 4 to 12 years
- Sex
- All
- Healthy volunteers
- Not accepted
- Age groups
- Child
Key inclusion criteria (5 listed)
- Children aged 4-12 years with a confirmed diagnosis of spastic diplegic cerebral palsy
- Gross Motor Function Classification System (GMFCS) levels II-IV
- Primary caregiver (mother or father) willing to commit to the 12-week program
- Caregiver had access to a smartphone with video-calling capability
- Caregiver able to understand and follow instructions in Urdu or English
Key exclusion criteria (4 listed)
- Children with uncontrolled seizures
- Children who had undergone orthopedic surgery or botulinum toxin injections in the lower extremities within the previous 6 months
- Children with severe visual or hearing impairments that would interfere with participation
- Caregivers with a diagnosed physical or mental health condition that would prevent them from safely delivering the home-based program
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 |
|---|---|---|
| Home-Based Intensive Segmental Trunk Training (ISTT)Also: Home-based trunk stabilization program, caregiver-delivered ISTTA 12-week structured, progressive trunk stabilization protocol targeting segmental control of the cervical, upper thoracic, lower thoracic, and lumbar regions of the spine. The program consisted of daily home-based sessions (approximately 30 minutes per session), guided by pre-recorded instructional videos and a picture-based manual developed specifically for this study. Exercises progressed from supported to unsupported positions and from static to dynamic tasks. Caregivers received an initial in-person orientation session at a hospital, followed by weekly tele-supervision video calls with a senior pediatric physical therapist to monitor progress, correct technique, address barriers, and adjust exercise difficulty. Monthly face-to-face monitoring visits were conducted at the hospital for clinical reassessment and reinforcement of training principles. | Other | Home-Based Intensive segmental Trunk Training Program |
Primary outcome
Adherence Rate
Time frame: Week 12 (end of intervention)
Percentage of prescribed home-based ISTT sessions completed by caregivers over the 12-week intervention period, calculated as (number of sessions completed / number of sessions prescribed) × 100. Adherence was cross-validated through caregiver self-report and observation during weekly tele-supervision video calls.
Caregiver Experiences and Perceptions (Qualitative)
Time frame: Week 12 (semi-structured interview)
Measured using a semi-structured qualitative interview conducted at the end of the intervention to explore caregivers' experiences, challenges, and perceived benefits of the home-based program.
Caregiver Knowledge, Attitudes and Barriers
Time frame: Baseline and Week 12
Measured using the KABA (Knowledge, Attitudes, Barriers, and Adherence) survey, administered at baseline and Week 12, to assess caregivers' knowledge, attitudes, and perceived barriers to the home-based Intensive Segmental Trunk Training program.
2 secondary outcomes
Segmental Assessment Trunk Control (SATCo)
Time frame: Baseline and Week 12
Gross Motor Function Measure-88 (GMFM-88)
Time frame: Baseline and Week 12
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 27 Jul 2026.
- Individual participant dataSharing planned: No. This was a small feasibility study conducted at a single center with a limited sample size (n = 20). Individual participant data are not planned for sharing due to confidentiality considerations and the feasibility nature of the study protocol.
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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.
Ashfaq Ahmad, PhD study chair
University of Lahore
1 site in 1 country: see every site and its status.
Questions about this trial
What is this clinical trial studying?
A study testing Home-Based Intensive Segmental Trunk Training (ISTT) in people with Cerebral Palsy (CP) and Home-based Rehabilitation, run by Iqra Khan 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 5 inclusion and 4 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 27 Jul 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?
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?
Adherence Rate (time frame: Week 12 (end of intervention)). 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 27 Jul 2026.