Comparative Effect of CIMT and PNFTechnique on Hands Dexterity in Cerebral Palsy

NCT07673289 — Not applicable, Recruiting, 26 participants, Riphah International University

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Comparative Effect of Constraint Induced Movement Therapy and Proprioceptive Neuromuscular Facilitation Technique on Hands Dexterity in Cerebral Palsy

Registry	NCT07673289
Status	Recruiting
Phase	Not applicable
Study type	Interventional; randomized, parallel, masking: single, treatment
Enrollment	26 (Estimated)
Sponsor	Riphah International University (Other)
Conditions	Cerebral Palsy
Interventions	Constraint-Induced Movement Therapy, Proprioceptive Neuromuscular Facilitation Therapy (Behavioral)
Dates	start 2026-01-11, primary completion 2026-06-25 (estimated), completion 2026-07-01 (estimated), first posted 2026-06-29, last updated 2026-06-29
Locations	1 site in Pakistan

-Summary

Cerebral Palsy (CP) is a group of permanent disorders of the development of movement and posture, causing activity limitations that are attributed to non-progressive disturbances that occurred in the developing fetal or infant brain. The primary motor impairments in CP often include issues with muscle tone, reflexes, and coordination. Among the various motor disorders associated with CP, impairment of the upper extremities is particularly common and functionally debilitating. Specifically, reduced hand dexterity the ability to perform coordinated, fine motor tasks significantly impacts a child's independence in daily activities such as feeding, dressing, and school-related tasks like writing. Therefore, improving hand function is a critical goal in physiotherapy for this population The objective of this study was to compare the effectiveness of a constraint induced movement therapy ( CIMT ) and Proprioceptive neuromuscular facilitation technique on dexterous movement of hands in cerebral palsy .The study design will be Randomized Controlled Trail. The study setting will be Pediatric Rehabilitation Center or Physiotherapy Department. The duration of study will be 10 months after approval of synopsis. The sample size will be 20 which is calculated by epitools. The sampling technique will be Non-probability convenient sampling . Children who are diagnosed with cerebral palsy will be included. Children with other musculoskeletal and neurological issues will be excluded. Data Collection Tools will be Box and Block test and Pediatric Evaluation of Disability Inventory.. The data will be analyzed using SPSS 23.

Keyword Cerebral Palsy, Constraint induced movement therapy (CIMT), dexterous movement, Proprioceptive neuromuscular facilitation

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+Arms and interventions

Arm	Type	Interventions	Description
Constraint-Induced Movement Therapy Group	Experimental	Behavioral: Constraint-Induced Movement Therapy	participants underwent Constraint-Induced Movement Therapy (CIMT) alongside conventional physical therapy, conducted five days a week for two hours daily (excluding weekends). This therapy encouraged the active use of the affected upper limb while immobilizing the unaffected limb with a mitt or sling. The aim was to improve motor recovery by combating "learned non-use." Participants engaged in repetitive, task-oriented activities tailored to their skills, such as reaching, grabbing, lifting, and handling objects of various weights and sizes. Fine motor skills exercises, like buttoning, writing, and stacking blocks, were included, progressively increasing in difficulty to enhance the application of these skills in daily activities.Therapists observed participants, provided feedback, and ensured the correct execution of movements, utilizing intense practice and molding techniques.
Proprioceptive Neuromuscular Facilitation Therapy Group	Experimental	Behavioral: Proprioceptive Neuromuscular Facilitation Therapy	Group B received Proprioceptive Neuromuscular Facilitation (PNF) therapy, each session lasting 1.5 hours per day. The PNF approach aimed to enhance functional motor abilities,reduce stiffness, and activate neuromuscular responses. Treatment included diagonal and spiral movement patterns involving the wrist, elbow, and shoulder joints, adhering to a "stretch, contract, and relax" protocol. This protocol involved passively stretching the limb, followed by isometric contractions lasting 10 seconds. Repeated stretching of hypertonic muscles and isotonic or eccentric movements helped alleviate spasticity and improve flexibility. Therapists provided verbal and tactile cues to guide correct movements and enhance muscular coordination. Assessments of spasticity and functional motor abilities were conducted after given time of intervention

Constraint-Induced Movement Therapy (Behavioral): In Group A, participants underwent Constraint-Induced Movement Therapy (CIMT) alongside conventional physical therapy, conducted five days a week for two hours daily (excluding weekends). This therapy encouraged the active use of the affected upper limb while immobilizing the unaffected limb with a mitt or sling. The aim was to improve motor recovery by combating "learned non-use." Participants engaged in repetitive, task-oriented activities tailored to their skills, such as reaching, grabbing, lifting, and handling objects of various weights and sizes. Fine motor skills exercises, like buttoning, writing, and stacking blocks, were included, progressively increasing in difficulty to enhance the application of these skills in daily activities.Therapists observed participants, provided feedback, and ensured the correct execution of movements, utilizing intense practice and molding techniques.
Proprioceptive Neuromuscular Facilitation Therapy (Behavioral): Group B received Proprioceptive Neuromuscular Facilitation (PNF) therapy, each session lasting 1.5 hours per day. The PNF approach aimed to enhance functional motor abilities,reduce stiffness, and activate neuromuscular responses. Treatment included diagonal and spiral movement patterns involving the wrist, elbow, and shoulder joints, adhering to a "stretch, contract, and relax" protocol. This protocol involved passively stretching the limb, followed by isometric contractions lasting 10 seconds. Repeated stretching of hypertonic muscles and isotonic or eccentric movements helped alleviate spasticity and improve flexibility. Therapists provided verbal and tactile cues to guide correct movements and enhance muscular coordination. Assessments of spasticity and functional motor abilities were conducted after given time of intervention

+Outcome measures

Primary outcomes

Box and Block test [6 weeks]: This test is used to measure manual dexterity. This test is simple, cheap and quick. The test can be used for different populations to assess the coordinated movements of the hands. The test-retest reliability on more weak hand is 0.98 and the less weak hand is 0.93. It has good convergent validity as the value is 0.80
Action Research Arm Test [6 weeks]: The Action Research Arm Test (ARAT) was used, assessing grasp, grip, pinch, and general movement with a score range of 0-57, where higher scores indicated improved motor function. The ARAT demonstrated high test-retest reliability (r = 0.98).

+Eligibility

Sex: All, ages: 8 Years to 13 Years

Inclusion Criteria:

* 8 to 13 years of age
* Both male and female
* Children with moderate level of mental retardation who are able to follow commands

Exclusion Criteria:

* Children with other musculoskeletal and neurological issues.
* Children who have complications such as epilepsy, congenital heart condition

+Locations (1)

Facility	City	Country	Status
Baloch Hospital	Lalian, Punjab Province	Pakistan	Recruiting

+Investigators

Riaz Baloch, MBBS, Principal investigator, Riphah International University