Effect of Plyometric Training Cross Education on Strength, Selective Motor Control and Balance in Children With Hemiplegic Cerebral Palsy
Effect of Plyometric Training Cross Education on Strength, Selective Motor Control and Balance in Children With Hemiplegic Cerebral Palsy
The goal of this clinical trial is to evaluate the effect of plyometric training with cross-education on lower limb muscle strength, selective motor control, and balance in children with hemiplegic cerebral palsy (HCP). It will also assess the safety and feasibility of applying this training program in pediatric rehabilitation.
The main questions it aims to answer are:
Does plyometric training with cross-education improve lower limb muscle strength in children with HCP? Does it improve selective motor control in the affected lower limb? Does it improve balance in children with HCP? Researchers will compare a study group receiving conventional physiotherapy plus plyometric training applied to the less affected limb to a control group receiving conventional physiotherapy only.
Participants will:
Receive treatment for 12 weeks (2 sessions per week) Attend regular physiotherapy sessions including stretching, strengthening, balance, and gait training Participate in plyometric exercises (study group only) Be assessed before and after the intervention using standardized tests for muscle strength, selective motor control, and balance
This study will be conducted as a randomized controlled clinical trial to investigate the effect of unilateral plyometric training with cross-education on lower limb muscle strength, selective motor control, and balance in children with hemiplegic cerebral palsy (HCP).
Hemiplegic cerebral palsy is a non-progressive neurological disorder caused by early brain injury, resulting in unilateral motor impairment, muscle weakness, and balance dysfunction. The cross-education effect refers to the transfer of strength and motor improvements from a trained limb to the contralateral untrained limb, primarily mediated by central neural mechanisms.
A total of forty children diagnosed with HCP will be recruited from outpatient pediatric clinics affiliated with the Faculty of Physical Therapy, Cairo University. Eligible participants will be randomly allocated into two equal groups.
The study group will receive a conventional pediatric physiotherapy program combined with a structured progressive plyometric training program applied exclusively to the less affected lower limb. The control group will receive only the conventional physiotherapy program, which includes stretching exercises, active and resistive range of motion exercises, balance training, and gait training.
The intervention will be carried out over a period of twelve weeks, with two sessions per week, each lasting approximately one hour. The plyometric training will be designed to progressively challenge neuromuscular performance through exercises involving the stretch-shortening cycle, while the conventional program will focus on functional motor rehabilitation.
Allocation will be performed using a computer-generated block randomization method, and concealment will be ensured using sealed opaque envelopes. The study will adhere to CONSORT guidelines for randomized controlled trials to ensure methodological rigor and transparency.
Outcome measures will be assessed at baseline and post-intervention using standardized and validated tools to evaluate changes in muscle strength, selective motor control, and balance. Data analysis will be performed to determine the effectiveness of the intervention.
Inclusion Criteria:Children eligible for participation in this study must meet all the following criteria:
Exclusion Criteria:Children will be excluded from this study if they have any of the following:
mayada.khedr59@gmail.com0201556950163
mayada.khedr59@gmail.com0201556950163
mayada.khedr59@gmail.com201556950163