Gentle zaps may ease stiff muscles in kids with cerebral palsy
NCT ID NCT07491341
First seen Jun 26, 2026 · Last updated Jun 27, 2026 · Updated 1 time
Summary
This study tested whether adding mild, painless electrical stimulation to standard physical therapy could help children with spastic cerebral palsy. Eleven children aged 5 to 15 received 6 weeks of therapy alone, then another 6 weeks with the added stimulation. Researchers measured ankle movement and muscle stiffness to see if the combination worked better.
What this could mean
Our plain-language read of the trial. This is informational only, not medical advice or a prediction.
- Active substance
- sensory-level electrical stimulation (device)
- What this could lead to
- If it works, this could offer a simple, non-drug way to improve mobility and reduce stiffness in children with cerebral palsy.
- What could go wrong
- This was a very small, early feasibility study with only 11 participants and no control group, so results may not be reliable or generalizable.
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
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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
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11 people
The number who actually took part.
- Started
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Nov 2020
- Finished
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May 2021
- Lead sponsor
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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
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5 to 15 years
- Sex
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Anyone
- Healthy volunteers
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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 Hide 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: * Children aged 5 to 15 years * Diagnosis of spastic cerebral palsy * Gross Motor Function Classification System (GMFCS) level I or II * Ability to understand simple verbal instructions * Parent or legal guardian able and willing to provide informed consent Exclusion Criteria: * Clinically relevant sensory deficits that could affect stimulation perception or outcome assessments * Uncontrolled epileptic seizures * Severe perceptual or cognitive problems preventing cooperation * Significant visual or hearing impairment * GMFCS level III or higher * Botulinum toxin injection or orthopedic surgery within the previous 6 months * Fixed ankle contracture or severe musculoskeletal deformity limiting range of motion
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Conditions
The condition(s) this trial relates to.
As listed by the trial registrant
The condition terms exactly as the trial's registrant entered them.
Contacts and locations
Locations
-
Marmara University, Faculty of Health Sciences
Istanbul, 34864, Turkey (Türkiye)
More trials for these conditions
Other studies related to the condition(s) this trial covers.
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- New exercise method aims to help kids with cerebral palsy sit and stand better
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