Children with cerebral palsy have increased muscle tone which often results in decreased active and passive movement at the ankle. While many management strategies exist (including passive stretching, WBV, serial casting, Botox, and surgical tendon lengthening), the utilization of WBV in combination with active exercises and serial casting has not been previously explored. Serial casting is the repeated application of a fiberglass cast (such as that applied to manage stable fractures) on a scheduled (usually weekly basis) to gradually increase the range of motion at a specific joint. It is theorized that combining previously established standard of care practices may result in more rapid clinical change, and hence reduce the need for prolonged intervention; ultimately reducing healthcare costs.
Study Type
INTERVENTIONAL
Allocation
RANDOMIZED
Purpose
HEALTH_SERVICES_RESEARCH
Masking
SINGLE
Enrollment
45
2 minutes each exercise with 30 sec break - 4 exercises prior to serial casting
WBV prior to serial casting
Serial Casting as provided by standard of care
Nationwide Children's Hospital
Columbus, Ohio, United States
RECRUITINGAnkle Dorsiflexion Range of Motion (Goniometer)
Measured with Goniometer in degrees. Knee flexed and knee extended.
Time frame: Longitudinal through study completion, an average of 6 weeks but upto 12 weeks
Pain (Visual Analogue Scale/Wong-Baker Faces)
Wong-Baker Faces will be used for those unable to provide a visual analogue scale score. Visual Analogue Scale = 0 (no pain) - 10 (worst pain). Wong-Baker Faces = ordinal level categories of pain. Categories = 0 no hurt, 2 hurts little bit, 4 hurts little more, 6 hurts even more, 8 hurst whole lot, 10 hurts worst. On both scales, higher number will be worst outcomes.
Time frame: Longitudinal through study completion, an average of 6 weeks but upto 12 weeks
Length of Casting Episode (Weeks)
Measured in weeks from the date of first serial cast application to date of last cast applied. This will be extracted from the electronic health record.
Time frame: Longitudinal through study completion, an average of 6 weeks but upto 12 weeks
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