Cure My Disease

Don't miss your cure!

 Log in / Sign up

Can zapping the brain while playing virtual reality games help kids with cerebral palsy walk better?

NCT ID NCT07829796

NEW Symptom relief Sponsor: Riphah International University Source: ClinicalTrials.gov ↗

What the study statuses mean

This study's is highlighted.

Recruitment status, easiest to join first

Recruiting now This study
This trial is taking on new participants right now.
Not yet recruiting
Registered, but not yet taking participants.
By invitation only
Not open to general applications. Only people the study team invites can take part.
Paused
Paused for now. It may or may not start again.
Ongoing
Running, but no longer taking on new participants.
Completed
The trial has finished. Results may not be published yet.
Stopped early
Stopped early, before it reached the end. That can be for many reasons, including safety.
Cancelled
Cancelled before anyone took part.

Expanded access (not trials)

Expanded access
Not a trial. This treatment can be requested outside a study, case by case, for people who qualify.
Expanded access (paused)
Not a trial. The treatment can normally be requested outside a study, but is unavailable right now.
Expanded access (ended)
Not a trial. The treatment could once be requested outside a study, but no longer can.
Approved
The treatment has been approved, so it is available normally rather than through this programme.

When the status isn't known

Details not published
The full record has not been published yet, so there is little to show here.
Status unknown
This status has not been confirmed recently, so it may be out of date.

First seen Sep 21, 2026 · Last updated Sep 21, 2026

Summary

Researchers are testing whether transcranial direct current stimulation (tDCS), a non-invasive brain stimulation technique, can boost the effects of virtual reality rehabilitation for children with spastic cerebral palsy. The trial will enroll 42 children aged 8 to 16 with spastic diplegic cerebral palsy. Participants will be randomly assigned to receive active tDCS plus virtual reality, sham tDCS plus virtual reality, or conventional physical therapy alone. Over six weeks, each group will have 18 sessions. The study will measure changes in walking speed and self-esteem, along with muscle stiffness and motor function.

What this could mean

Our plain-language read of the trial. This is informational only, not medical advice or a prediction.

Active substance
transcranial direct current stimulation combined with virtual reality rehabilitation
What this could lead to
If it works, this could offer a non-invasive way to help children with cerebral palsy walk faster and feel better about themselves. It might also become a standard add-on to physical therapy.
What could go wrong
The trial is small and early, so any benefits may be modest or not last. Brain stimulation can cause mild scalp discomfort, and virtual reality may not suit every child.

This is an AI summary of the original study and may miss details. Read our disclaimer.

Study facts

What this study's own registry entry says, in plain language.

Phase

Not a phased trial

Phase numbers describe drug development. The registry uses this when they do not apply, as it does for trials of devices, procedures or behaviour changes, and for observational studies.

Participants

About 42 people

The number the study aims to enrol. It can still change while the study runs.

Started

Sep 2026

Expected to finish

Oct 2026

An estimate. End dates often move.

Lead sponsor

Other sponsor

The registry's catch-all category, for sponsors it does not file as a company, a government agency, or a research network.

Who can take part

This study's own entry requirements. Only the study team can say for certain whether you qualify.

Ages

8 to 16 years

Sex

Anyone

Healthy volunteers

Not accepted

This study is not open to healthy volunteers. The entry requirements below say who it is open to.

Show the full entry requirements

Copied word for word from the study's registry entry, so the wording is the study team's rather than ours.

Inclusion Criteria: * Diagnosed with spastic cerebral palsy (spastic diplegia). Age 8-16 years. Gross Motor Function Classification System (GMFCS) levels I-III. Presence of mild to moderate lower-limb spasticity, defined as a Modified Tardieu Scale (MTS) score between 1 and 3 in at least one major lower-limb muscle group, such as the gastrocnemius, hamstrings, or hip adductors. Able to understand and follow verbal instructions. Parent or guardian provides informed consent and the child provides assent. Exclusion Criteria: * History of seizures or epilepsy. Implanted metal or electronic devices, such as a pacemaker. Severe cognitive impairment that prevents comprehension of study tasks. Skin allergies, lesions, or other conditions affecting the electrode application sites. Current use of antispasticity medication that could directly influence spasticity outcomes. Botulinum toxin injection within the previous 3 months. Recent orthopedic surgery or change in medication regimen within the previous 5 days. Concurrent participation in alternative or adjunct therapies outside the study protocol. Refusal to participate or withdrawal of consent/assent.

Get updates

Get notified about this study

Sign up to get updates when this study changes or when new studies for Spastic diplegic cerebral palsy are added.

Our safety recommendation!

By submitting, you agree to our Terms of use

Conditions

The condition(s) this trial relates to.

cerebral palsy spastic diplegia

As listed by the trial registrant

The condition terms exactly as the trial's registrant entered them.

Spastic diplegic cerebral palsy

How to take part

Only the study team decides who joins. These are the ways to reach them.

  1. The places running it

    2 sites. The list below names each one and where it is.

  2. The official record

    ClinicalTrials.gov lists the study team's own contact details, including names and phone numbers. We don't republish those.

    Open the record ↗

  3. A doctor treating you

    A doctor who knows your case can contact a study site on your behalf, and can tell you whether this study is worth pursuing at all.

Contacts and locations

Locations

  • Al-Farabi Special Education Centre for Physically Handicapped

    RECRUITING

    Islamabad, 44000, Pakistan

  • Sedum School of Rehabilitation

    RECRUITING

    Islamabad, 44000, Pakistan

More trials for these conditions

Other studies related to the condition(s) this trial covers.