A non-progressive condition that harms the developing brain both during and after birth is cerebral palsy (CP). It is a multifaceted syndrome marked by abnormalities in movement and posture, along with concomitant sensory-motor, cognitive, and behavioral impairments and seizures. CP can be divided into three types based on neurological classification: spastic, athetoid, and ataxic, impairments in motor skills and posture are hallmarks of cerebral palsy. Various strategies have been employed in motor skill improvement interventions. One of them, mirror-mediated treatment, works by stimulating mirror neurons in a specific region of the brain cortex. Mirror-mediated therapy involves the patient observing movement of his or her own limb reflected in a mirror, which activates mirror neurons. The application of mirror treatment improved gait capacity by elevating physical perception and balance ability. The purpose of the study will be to evaluate the effects of mirror therapy in lower limb hemiplegic cerebral palsy.
A randomized controlled trial will be conducted to investigate the effects of mirror therapy in children with hemiplegic cerebral palsy. Data will be collected at the National Institute of Rehabilitation Medicine in Islamabad following ethical clearance. 26 patients will be enrolled in the study based on inclusion criteria. Patients will be randomly assigned into 2 equal groups for the study. Children in the control group will receive conventional therapy for 60 minutes, while Children in the experimental group will receive 30 minutes of mirror therapy and 30 minutes of conventional therapy, for 12 weeks, 3 days every week. The primary outcome will be measured by Selective Control Assessment of Lower Extremity scale (SCALE), while the secondary outcome will be measured by the Pediatric Balance Scale (PBS). All gait parameters (stride length, step length, step width, cadence and foot angle) will be measured before and after the application of intervention. Data will be analyzed using SPSS 27.0.
Study Type
INTERVENTIONAL
Allocation
RANDOMIZED
Purpose
TREATMENT
Masking
SINGLE
Enrollment
26
Mirror Therapy (MT) is a non-invasive treatment method aimed at addressing unilateral conditions impacting either the upper or lower limbs. This technique involves placing a mirror along the patient's sagittal plane, allowing the reflection of the unaffected limb to visually overlay the affected limb.
conventional therapy
Riphah International University
Lahore, Punjab Province, Pakistan
RECRUITINGSelective Control Assessment of Lower Extremity scale (SCALE):
The Selective Control Assessment of the Lower Extremity (SCALE) is a clinical tool used to measure motor control in individuals with cerebral palsy. In this assessment, participants perform specific isolated movements at each joint, and each joint is scored to produce a total score per limb, with a maximum of 10 points per limb. SCALE demonstrates high interrater reliability, with intraclass correlation coefficients between 0.88 and 0.915. The assessment requires minimal training and takes approximately 10 to 15 minutes to complete.
Time frame: 12 weeks
Pediatric Balance Scale (PBS);
The Pediatric Balance Scale is an adaptation of the Berg Balance Scale, designed to evaluate functional balance skills in children. It includes 14 items, each scored from 0 (indicating lowest function) to 4 (indicating highest function), with a maximum possible score of 56 points.
Time frame: 12 weeks
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