Could a gentle zap to the diaphragm help kids with cerebral palsy breathe easier?
NCT ID NCT07622875
First seen Jun 26, 2026 · Last updated Jun 27, 2026 · Updated 1 time
Summary
This study tests whether adding a mild electrical stimulation to the diaphragm (the main breathing muscle) can improve lung function, head control, and sitting balance in children with severe cerebral palsy who cannot walk. Thirty children aged 5-18 will receive either standard rehab alone or rehab plus the stimulation twice a week for six weeks. The goal is to see if this simple, non-invasive approach can make breathing and daily activities easier.
What this could mean
Our plain-language read of the trial. This is informational only, not medical advice or a prediction.
- Active substance
- transcutaneous diaphragmatic electrical stimulation (TDES) device
- What this could lead to
- If it works, this could offer a simple, non-invasive way to improve breathing and posture in children with severe cerebral palsy.
- What could go wrong
- This is a small, early-phase trial with only 30 participants, so results may not apply broadly. The treatment is added to an intensive rehab program, making it hard to isolate its effect.
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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About 30 people
The number the study aims to enrol. It can still change while the study runs.
- Started
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Apr 2026
- Expected to finish
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Dec 2026
An estimate. End dates often move.
- Lead sponsor
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A government agency
The lead sponsor is a government body.
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 18 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: * Diagnosed with Cerebral Palsy (GMFCS Level IV-V) * Aged 5-18 years Exclusion Criteria: * Clinically unstable condition, * Tracheostomy, home-based non-invasive mechanical ventilation (CPAP/BIPAP), continuous oxygen therapy
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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.
How to take part
Only the study team decides who joins. These are the ways to reach them.
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The places running it
1 site. The list below names each one and where it is.
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The official record
The full official record for this study. This one lists no contact details, but it is the first place any would appear.
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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
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Ankara Etlik City Hospital
Ankara, Turkey (Türkiye)
More trials for these conditions
Other studies related to the condition(s) this trial covers.
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- Robots map how brain and nerve injuries disrupt everyday arm tasks
- Can modified music tunes boost balance in kids with cerebral palsy?