High Intensity Exercise for Cerebral Palsy

Overseen By Raven Young, BS

Age: < 18

Sex: Any

Trial Phase: Phase 1

Sponsor: University of Alabama at Birmingham

Disqualifiers: Physically active, Blindness, Deafness, others

No Placebo Group All trial participants will receive the active study treatment (no placebo)

Compensation: Varies

Number of Visits: Unknown

Duration: 12 weeks

What You Need to Know Before You Apply

What is the purpose of this trial?

This trial explores the effects of a high-intensity exercise program for children with cerebral palsy. It incorporates fun, rhythmic movements set to music, designed for wheelchair use, to enhance heart health and fitness. The main treatment involves sprint-intensity interval training, guided by online videos and telecoaching. Children aged 6-17 with cerebral palsy, who are not currently very active and can use their arms for exercise, may be suitable candidates. Parents or caregivers must manage the child's exercise schedule and ensure their safety during the study. As a Phase 1 trial, the research focuses on understanding how the treatment works in people, offering participants the opportunity to be among the first to experience this innovative approach.

Will I have to stop taking my current medications?

The trial information does not specify whether participants need to stop taking their current medications.

What prior data suggests that this high-intensity exercise program is safe for children with cerebral palsy?

Research has shown that sprint-intensity interval training with telecoaching is safe for children with cerebral palsy. One study found that this exercise program is not only popular but also safe for these children. The program includes simple arm exercises that can be followed using YouTube videos and coaching over the phone, making it easy and fun.

Another study demonstrated that this exercise method can improve overall fitness, with a 10% increase in aerobic capacity for children with cerebral palsy. This improvement is important because better fitness can reduce the risk of heart and metabolic diseases.

Overall, the evidence suggests that this high-intensity exercise program is both safe and beneficial for participating children. ^{1 2 3 4 5}

Why are researchers excited about this trial?

Researchers are excited about Sprint-Intensity Interval Training with Telecoaching for cerebral palsy because it's a fresh approach that combines high-intensity exercise with engaging movement-to-music routines. Unlike traditional physical therapy, which often focuses on repetitive, moderate exercises, this method uses short bursts of intense activity designed to improve cardiovascular fitness and muscle strength more effectively. The integration of telecoaching and YouTube videos offers a flexible, at-home option that can be more motivating and accessible for participants, potentially leading to better adherence and outcomes.

What evidence suggests that this high-intensity exercise program might be effective for cerebral palsy?

Research shows that high-intensity interval training (HIIT) can boost fitness in children with cerebral palsy. Studies have found that it significantly improves how well their bodies use oxygen during exercise, with some children experiencing a 10% increase in this ability. Additionally, short, intense arm exercises enhance heart and lung function. In this trial, participants in the "Movement-to-Music" arm will engage in sprint-intensity interval training with telecoaching, a safe and effective method. Overall, these findings suggest that high-intensity exercise, especially when combined with enjoyable activities like moving to music, could benefit children with mobility challenges. ^{1 3 4 5 6}

Are You a Good Fit for This Trial?

This trial is for children aged 6-17 with cerebral palsy who can use their arms and have a Gross Motor Function Classification of I-III. They need medical clearance for high-intensity exercise, Wi-Fi at home, and caregiver support. It's not for those already very active, with severe motor function impairment (Level IV-V), complete blindness or deafness, contraindications to exercise testing, pregnancy, or without recent physician visit.

Inclusion Criteria

Participants must have a caregiver who will support and monitor the participant's safety during the intervention and manage the child's exercise schedule

I can walk with or without walking aids.

Participants must have medical clearance to participate in high-intensity exercise from a physician

Exclusion Criteria

Participants with complete blindness or deafness

Participants who use a g-tube

I have severe limitations in my physical movements.

Timeline for a Trial Participant

Screening

Participants are screened for eligibility to participate in the trial

2-4 weeks

Treatment

Participants engage in 12 weeks of sprint-intensity interval training with arm-based routines via YouTube videos, with coaching through telecommunications.

12 weeks

Virtual coaching sessions

Wait-list Control

Participants maintain habitual physical activity, diet, and nutrition patterns for 12 weeks before receiving the Movement-to-Music intervention.

12 weeks

Follow-up

Participants are monitored for changes in various health metrics, including fasting triglycerides, pVO2, body weight, and more.

4 weeks

What Are the Treatments Tested in This Trial?

Interventions

• Sprint-Intensity Interval Training with Telecoaching

Trial Overview The study tests a high-intensity home-exercise program tailored for children with cerebral palsy using wheelchairs. The program involves sprint-interval training coordinated with music and telecoaching to improve cardiovascular fitness and cardiometabolic health in an enjoyable way.

How Is the Trial Designed?

Group I: Movement-to-Music Experimental Treatment 1 Intervention

12 weeks of sprint-intensity interval training while following along with YouTube videos that include arm-based routines, with coaching through telecommunications. Participants are instructed to maintain their habitual diet and nutrition patterns

Group II: Wait-list Control Active Control 1 Intervention

12 weeks of maintaining habitual physical activity, diet, and nutrition patterns, until receiving 12 weeks of Movement-to-Music

Who Is Running the Clinical Trial?

University of Alabama at Birmingham

Lead Sponsor

Trials

1,677

Recruited

2,458,000+

Eunice Kennedy Shriver National Institute of Child Health and Human Development (NICHD)

Collaborator

Trials

2,103

Recruited

2,760,000+

Published Research Related to This Trial

Goal-directed group circuit progressive resistance exercise training (GT) significantly improved motor function in adolescents with cerebral palsy compared to treadmill training (TT), with notable advantages in various functional measures after 30 bi-weekly sessions.

Both training methods were effective, but the GT group showed greater improvements in key assessments like GMFM-66 and TUG, although the differences were less pronounced at the 6-month follow-up.

NCBI (Pubmed)

pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov

Effects of a group circuit progressive resistance training program compared with a treadmill training program for adolescents with cerebral palsy. Aviram, R., Harries, N., Namourah, I., et al.[2018]

High-intensity interval training (HIT) significantly improved aerobic exercise capacity in children with cerebral palsy, as evidenced by a 10% increase in peak oxygen uptake (VO2peak) after 24 training sessions.

While body composition did not change, parents reported an improvement in their children's quality of life, suggesting that HIT may enhance overall well-being, even if the children themselves did not perceive a difference.

NCBI (Pubmed)

pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov

High-intensity interval training to improve fitness in children with cerebral palsy. Lauglo, R., Vik, T., Lamvik, T., et al.[2020]

Short-burst interval locomotor treadmill training (SBLTT) significantly improved walking capacity in children with spastic diplegic cerebral palsy, as evidenced by increased speeds in the 10 m walk test and one-minute walk test after 20 sessions.

The training also enhanced walking performance, with participants showing a substantial increase in daily strides and time spent at higher stride rates, indicating better overall mobility.

NCBI (Pubmed)

pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov

Short-burst interval treadmill training walking capacity and performance in cerebral palsy: a pilot study. Bjornson, KF., Moreau, N., Bodkin, AW.[2021]

A pilot study involving 12 adolescents with cerebral palsy showed that aquatic high intensity interval training is feasible, with a high adherence rate and no major adverse events reported during the 10-week program.

Participants found the training enjoyable and beneficial for social interaction, but further research is needed to determine its effectiveness compared to usual care.

NCBI (Pubmed)

pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov

Aquatic high intensity interval training to improve aerobic capacity is feasible in adolescents with cerebral palsy: pilot randomised controlled trial. Depiazzi, J., Smith, N., Gibson, N., et al.[2022]

Citations

1. pmc.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov pmc.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/articles/PMC12507328/

Sprint-Intensity Arm Interval Training May Improve ... The aim of this study is to test the potential effects and safety of a sprint-intensity arm-exercise interval training program, combined with ...

2. mdpi.com mdpi.com/2411-5142/10/2/102

Effect of 4 Weeks of High-Intensity Interval Training (HIIT) ... Additionally, improvements in anaerobic power output and athletic performance were observed in all three athletes over a short training period of four weeks.

3. sciencedirect.com sciencedirect.com/science/article/abs/pii/S0003999325004307

Telehealth Maximal-Intensity Interval Training Safely ... Preliminary analysis of this ongoing trial suggests improvements in cardiorespiratory capacity following a telehealth sprint-intensity arm exercise program.

4. researchprotocols.org researchprotocols.org/2024/1/e56499/

Telehealth Movement-to-Music With Arm-Based Sprint ... HIIT with a treadmill has been found to be safe and effective in improving VO2 peak among ambulatory children with CP [ High-intensity interval ...

5. withpower.com withpower.com/trial/phase-1-cerebral-palsy-3-2023-d1dc7

High Intensity Exercise for Cerebral Palsy High-intensity interval training (HIT) significantly improved aerobic exercise capacity in children with cerebral palsy, as evidenced by a 10% increase in peak ...

6. pmc.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov pmc.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/articles/PMC10951837/

Telehealth Movement-to-Music With Arm-Based Sprint ... A higher VO2 peak is linked with reduced risk for cardiometabolic disease [36,40], which is relevant among children with CP who generally have low levels of ...