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Effects of High-Velocity Passive Stretch on Spasticity, Function, and Muscle Structure in Spastic CP Children
Sponsor: TC Erciyes University
Summary
One of the traditional exercises applied to cerebral palsy (CP) is passive stretching exercises. Passive stretching exercises can be applied to these patients at various speeds. A recent study has shown that high-speed passive stretching in children with CP can increase muscle bundle length in spastic muscles. Therefore, high-speed stretching exercises may potentiate the positive effects of BoNT-A treatment on spasticity and muscle fascicle in patients with CP. This study aims to investigate whether fast stretching exercises administered to children with CP following BoNT-A injection are more effective than standard stretching in improving spasticity, functional status, and muscle architecture.
Official title: Effects of High-Velocity Passive Stretching Protocol on Spasticity, Functional Status, and Muscle Architecture in Children With Spastic Cerebral Palsy
Key Details
Gender
All
Age Range
2 Years - 8 Years
Study Type
INTERVENTIONAL
Enrollment
34
Start Date
2026-06-01
Completion Date
2026-07-01
Last Updated
2025-06-06
Healthy Volunteers
Yes
Interventions
Exercise
In addition to standard physical therapy (including strengthening exercises, weight-bearing, balance, proprioception, and gait training), stretching will be applied to the ankle joint as described by Tardieu: first at a velocity as slow as possible (V1) for 5 minutes, followed by stretching at the fastest possible velocity (V3), sufficient to elicit a catch, for 10 minutes. A 1-minute rest period will be provided between each stretch. This protocol will be conducted three times per week for four weeks under the supervision of a physiotherapist. Afterward, the exercise will be taught to the families and continued at home as a home-based program for up to six months, without velocity measurement.
Exercise
In addition to standard physical therapy (including strengthening exercises, weight-bearing, balance, proprioception, and gait training), standard stretching will be applied to the ankle joint three sessions per week. Stretching will be performed for a total of 15 minutes per leg in each session, consisting of 10 repetitions of 60 seconds with 30-second rest intervals. During the 4-week intervention period, the exercises will be taught to the families and continued at home as a home exercise program for up to six months
Locations (1)
Erciyes University Faculty of Medicine Hospital
Kayseri, Turkey, Turkey (Türkiye)