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Diplegic Cerebral PalsytDCSNCT07921095

Additional Effects on tDCS With AOT on Lower Limb Functions on Children With Diplegic CP

A study testing Action Observation Therapy and Transcranial Direct Current Stimulation in people with Diplegic Cerebral Palsy, run by Riphah International University at 1 site in Pakistan.

Recruiting

Looking for participants now. Contact the study team or a site below to ask about taking part.

Sites and contacts
Official record
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Trial summary

The goal of this clinical trial is to evaluate the therapeutic effects of combining active transcranial direct current stimulation (tDCS) with Action Observation Therapy (AOT) in pediatric patients diagnosed with spastic Cerebral Palsy. The main questions it aims to answer are: 1. Read more about this study

Who is it for?
Ages 5 to 15 years
Conditions the study is for
Diplegic Cerebral Palsy
What is being tested?
Action Observation Therapy and Transcranial Direct Current Stimulation
Type of treatment
Medical device
Could I receive a placebo?
Yes, some participants may receive a placebo
How many people
40 participants
Where
1 sitePakistan
Study dates
1 Jul 2026to 1 Jan 2027
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 5 to 15 years
  • All sexes
  • No healthy volunteers
  • Child

Who may be able to join

  • Participants diagnosed with spastic diplegic cerebral palsy with a Modified Ashworth Scale (MAS) score of 2
  • Age between 6 to 12 years old
  • Participants classified as Communication Function Classification System (CFCS) Level II
  • Participant with CFCS Level II

Who cannot join

  • Presence of uncontrolled epilepsy (any seizure within the past 6 months).
  • Implanted metallic or electronic devices (e.g., pacemaker, cochlear implant, deep brain stimulator).
  • Severe dystonia, ataxia, or predominant weakness interfering with upper limb or lower limb function.
  • Severe visual impairment (not correctable with aids) preventing participation in action observation tasks.
  • Botulinum toxin injections in the affected limb(s) within the past 6 months or planned during study period.
  • Orthopedic surgery to the affected limb(s) within the past 12 months or planned during study period.
Show all 10Show fewer
  • Skin conditions, lesions, or infections at electrode placement sites.
  • Current use of medications significantly affecting cortical excitability (e.g., high-dose benzodiazepines, anticonvulsants), unless cleared by neurologist.
  • Participation in another interventional clinical trial within the past 3 months.
  • Any medical or psychiatric condition that, in the investigator's judgment, makes participation unsafe or interferes with study outcomes.

Trial locations and contacts

1 site in 1 country. Contact the study team or a site near you to ask about taking part.

Dr. Ayesha Bashir, MS-NMPT contact

+923335256920

ayesha.bashir@riphah.edu.pk/

Ayesha Bashir contact

Pakistan1 site, 1 recruiting
  • Alam Family Hospital

    Wah, Punjab Province, 47000

    Recruiting

Other trials in Pakistan

About this study

Official title: Additional Effects on Transcranial Direct Current Stimulation (tDCS) With Action Observation Therapy on Lower Limb Functions on Children With Diplegic Cerebral Palsy

The goal of this clinical trial is to evaluate the therapeutic effects of combining active transcranial direct current stimulation (tDCS) with Action Observation Therapy (AOT) in pediatric patients diagnosed with spastic Cerebral Palsy. The main questions it aims to answer are:

  1. Does combining tDCS with AOT yield significantly greater improvements in gross motor function (measured by GMFM-88) compared to AOT alone?
  2. Does active tDCS paired with AOT lead to greater reductions in spasticity (MAS) and improvements in walking speed (10MWT) at 6 weeks post-intervention?
Read more

Researchers will compare participants receiving active tDCS plus AOT against a control group receiving sham tDCS plus AOT to isolate the synergistic effects of active brain stimulation.

Participants will:

  1. Complete baseline clinical evaluations including gross motor, spasticity, and gait assessments.
  2. Undergo scheduled intervention sessions consisting of tDCS administration combined with video-based Action Observation Therapy.
  3. Attend follow-up assessment sessions at the end of the intervention period and 6 weeks post-intervention.
Being tested
Action Observation Therapy, Transcranial Direct Current Stimulation, Sham TDCs
Medical subject headings
Cerebral Palsy

What participants receive

What participants receive. In a randomised study each person is assigned to one group by chance.

Study groups in NCT07921095
Study groupRoleWhat they receive
Experimental GroupActive comparatorTDCS+ Action observation Therapy
Receives: Other: Action Observation Therapy; Device: Transcranial Direct Current Stimulation
Control GroupSham comparatorSham TDCs + Action Observation Therapy
Receives: Other: Action Observation Therapy; Device: Sham TDCs

What is being measured

The primary outcome is the main question the study is designed to answer.

  1. Gross Motor Functional Measurement (GMFM-88)

    Assessment of Gross Motor Capacity focusing on standing

    Measured: Baseline and 6 months (post - intervention)

Secondary outcomes (2)
  1. 10-Meter Walk Test (10MWT)

    Measures walking speed in meters per second over 10 meters

    Measured: Baseline and 6 weeks (post-intervention)

  2. Modified Ashworth Scale (MAS) - Muscle tone

    Evaluate muscle spasticity in lower limb joints

    Measured: Baseline and 6 weeks (post-intervention)

Timeline

From the start of the study to its completion; the mark is today. Estimated dates are the sponsor’s plan.

  1. First posted6 Nov 2026
  2. Study start1 Jul 2026
  3. Primary completion1 Nov 2026 (estimated)
  4. Study completion1 Jan 2027 (estimated)

Resources

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
Double blind
Who is masked
Participant, Care provider
Enrolment
40 participants (estimated)
IDs, dates and publications
ClinicalTrials.gov ID
NCT07921095
Sponsor's protocol ID
RCRAHS-ISB/REC/MS-PT/02470
Acronym
tDCS
Status last verified
Nov 2026
First submitted
2 Nov 2026
Last updated
6 Nov 2026
Results posted
No
Data monitoring committee
No
FDA-regulated drug
No
FDA-regulated device
No
Individual data sharing
No

Publications

  • Magdy E, Hanna S, Shoukry KE-S. Effect of Action Observation Training on Gross Motor Functions in Children with Spastic Cerebral Palsy. Egyptian Journal of Hospital Medicine. 2025;97(1):3820-6.

  • Zhong M, Zhang Y, Luo J, Chen T, Zhang J, Peng T Sr, Han M, Le W, Peng T Jr, Xu K. Safety and effectiveness of non-invasive brain stimulation on mobility and balance function in children with cerebral palsy: a systematic review and meta-analysis. J Neuroeng Rehabil. 2025 May 18;22(1):111. doi: 10.1186/s12984-025-01619-7.

    PubMed 40383797
  • Lench DH, Christopher P, Gavioli M, Nytes G, Ikonomidou C, Villegas MA, Gillick BT. Long-term outcome safety assessment after teleneuromodulation in children with cerebral palsy. Brain Stimul. 2024 May-Jun;17(3):633-635. doi: 10.1016/j.brs.2024.04.017. Epub 2024 May 11. No abstract available.

    PubMed 38740181
  • Stein A, Riddle J, Caulfield KA, Dux PE, Friehs MA, Schroeder PA, Craven MP, Groom MJ, Iyer KK, Barlow KM. Safety, Feasibility, and Tolerability of Ten Days of At-Home, Remotely Supervised tDCS During Gamified Attention Training in Children with Acquired Brain Injury: An Open-Label, Dose-Controlled Pilot Trial. Brain Sci. 2025 May 24;15(6):561. doi: 10.3390/brainsci15060561.

    PubMed 40563733
  • Farzamfar P, Heirani A, Amiri E, Sedighi M, da Silva Machado DG. The Effect of Transcranial Direct Current Stimulation on M1 with and without Mirror Visual Feedback on Range of Motion and Hand Grip Strength of the Affected Upper Limb in Children with Spastic Hemiplegic Cerebral Palsy. Iran J Child Neurol. 2024 Fall;18(4):93-106. doi: 10.22037/IJCN.V18I4.45110. Epub 2024 Sep 29.

    PubMed 39478944
  • Tang L, Wu Y, Ma J, Lu Y, Wang L, Shan C. Application of tDCS in children with cerebral palsy: A mini review. Front Pediatr. 2022 Sep 20;10:966650. doi: 10.3389/fped.2022.966650. eCollection 2022.

    PubMed 36204667
  • Christopher P, Sutter EN, Gavioli M, Lench DH, Nytes G, Mak V, Simpson EA, Ikonomidou C, Villegas MA, Saiote C, Gillick BT. Safety, tolerability and feasibility of remotely-instructed home-based transcranial direct current stimulation in children with cerebral palsy. Brain Stimul. 2023 Sep-Oct;16(5):1325-1327. doi: 10.1016/j.brs.2023.08.024. Epub 2023 Aug 29. No abstract available.

    PubMed 37652136
  • He W, Huang Y, He L, Liu L, Zeng P, Qiu H, Wang X, Zhou H, Chen Z, Xu Y, Zhao J, Wang W, Tang H, Xu K. Safety and effects of transcranial direct current stimulation on hand function in preschool children with hemiplegic cerebral palsy: A pilot study. Front Behav Neurosci. 2022 Sep 9;16:925122. doi: 10.3389/fnbeh.2022.925122. eCollection 2022.

    PubMed 36160682
  • Beani E, Menici V, Sicola E, Ferrari A, Feys H, Klingels K, Mailleux L, Boyd R, Cioni G, Sgandurra G. Effectiveness of the home-based training program Tele-UPCAT (Tele-monitored UPper Limb Children Action Observation Training) in unilateral cerebral palsy: a randomized controlled trial. Eur J Phys Rehabil Med. 2023 Oct;59(5):554-563. doi: 10.23736/S1973-9087.23.07945-5. Epub 2023 Jul 18.

    PubMed 37462399
  • Jeong YA, Lee BH. Effect of Action Observation Training on Spasticity, Gross Motor Function, and Balance in Children with Diplegia Cerebral Palsy. Children (Basel). 2020 Jun 18;7(6):64. doi: 10.3390/children7060064.

    PubMed 32570855
  • Errante A, Beccani L, Verzelloni J, Maggi I, Filippi M, Bressi B, Ziccarelli S, Bozzetti F, Costi S, Ferrari A, Fogassi L. Effectiveness of action observation treatment based on pathological model in hemiplegic children: a randomized-controlled trial. Eur J Phys Rehabil Med. 2024 Aug;60(4):643-655. doi: 10.23736/S1973-9087.24.08413-2. Epub 2024 May 30.

    PubMed 38814197
  • Simon-Martinez C, Mailleux L, Jaspers E, Ortibus E, Desloovere K, Klingels K, Feys H. Effects of combining constraint-induced movement therapy and action-observation training on upper limb kinematics in children with unilateral cerebral palsy: a randomized controlled trial. Sci Rep. 2020 Jun 26;10(1):10421. doi: 10.1038/s41598-020-67427-2.

    PubMed 32591590
  • Beani E, Matteucci E, Sicola E, Martini G, Di Lieto MC, Bombonato C, Menici V, Cotardo A, Rizzo M, Filogna S, Camuncoli F, Biagi L, Cioni G, Fedeli F, Gelmini C, Neviani R, Vecchi O, Perazza S, Faccioli S, Errante A, Piras A, Sicuri E, Bozzetti F, Boyd RN, Ferrari A, Fogassi L, Sgandurra G. ACT-ON-DIP: Study Protocol of a Randomized Controlled Trial of a Home-Based ACTion Observation Tele-RehabilitatioN for Upper Limb in Children with DIPlegic Cerebral Palsy. Children (Basel). 2025 Sep 14;12(9):1229. doi: 10.3390/children12091229.

    PubMed 41007094

Questions about this trial

What is this clinical trial studying?

A study testing Action Observation Therapy and Transcranial Direct Current Stimulation in people with Diplegic 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 4 inclusion and 10 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 6 Nov 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. Some participants in this study may receive a placebo. 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 Dr. Ayesha Bashir, MS-NMPT (+923335256920, ayesha.bashir@riphah.edu.pk/), or a site near the patient. AzTrials does not enrol participants or take referrals.

What does the primary outcome measure?

Gross Motor Functional Measurement (GMFM-88) (time frame: Baseline and 6 months (post - intervention)). 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 NCT07921095, which also lists 13 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 6 Nov 2026.

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