Completed

DRYSPARCDry Needling for Spasticity in Children with Cerebral Palsy

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What is being tested

Dry Needling

+ Cerebral Palsy conventional Treatment

DeviceOther
Who is being recruted

Brain Damage, Chronic+10

+ Brain Diseases

+ Central Nervous System Diseases

From 6 to 12 Years
+13 Eligibility Criteria
See all eligibility criteria
How is the trial designed

Treatment Study

Interventional
Study Start: September 2024
See protocol details

Summary

Principal SponsorRiphah International University
Last updated: January 28, 2026
Sourced from a government-validated database.Claim as a partner

Study start date: September 24, 2024

Actual date on which the first participant was enrolled.

This clinical trial is exploring how dry needling therapy might help children with spastic cerebral palsy, a condition that affects movement and muscle tone. The study involves 38 children aged 6 to 12 years who are classified under specific levels of motor function. The goal is to see if adding dry needling therapy to regular physical therapy can improve muscle tightness, range of motion, and overall mobility. Addressing these issues could significantly improve the quality of life for these children, making this research important for providing better treatment options. Participants in the study are divided into two groups. One group receives dry needling therapy along with routine physical therapy, while the other group only receives routine physical therapy. The effects of these treatments are measured using tests that assess muscle relaxation, ankle movement, and how quickly a child can stand up and walk a short distance. These tests are conducted before and after a 10-week period to evaluate any changes. By analyzing this data, researchers aim to understand if dry needling is an effective way to manage symptoms in children with cerebral palsy.

Official TitleEffects of Dry Needling on Spasticity, Range of Motion, and Functional Mobility Among Children With Cerebral Palsy
NCT06661421
Principal SponsorRiphah International University
Last updated: January 28, 2026
Sourced from a government-validated database.Claim as a partner

Protocol

This section provides details of the study plan, including how the study is designed and what the study is measuring.
Design Details

38 patients to be enrolled

Total number of participants that the clinical trial aims to recruit.

Treatment Study

These studies test new ways to treat a disease, condition, or health issue. The goal is to see if a new drug, therapy, or approach works better or has fewer side effects than existing options.

Eligibility

Researchers look for people who fit a certain description, called eligibility criteria: person's general health condition or prior treatments.
Conditions
Criteria

Any sex

Biological sex of participants that are eligible to enroll.

From 6 to 12 Years

Range of ages for which participants are eligible to join.

Healthy volunteers not allowed

If individuals who are healthy and do not have the condition being studied can participate.

Conditions

Pathology

Brain Damage, ChronicBrain DiseasesCentral Nervous System DiseasesCerebral PalsyMuscle HypertoniaMuscle SpasticityMuscular DiseasesMusculoskeletal DiseasesNervous System DiseasesNeurologic ManifestationsSigns and SymptomsPathological Conditions, Signs and SymptomsNeuromuscular Manifestations

Criteria

5 inclusion criteria required to participate
Age: 6 to 12 years old
Walking ability at Gross Motor Function Classification System levels I to II
Modified Modified Ashworth Scale (MAS) score higher than equal to 1 (score up to 2)
Ability to understand and execute orders
Show More Criteria
8 exclusion criteria prevent from participating
Recent introduction of a new intervention in addition to previous treatments
Presence of bleeding disorders or skin conditions
Skin sensitivity issues
History of seizures within the past six months
Show More Criteria

Study Plan

Find out more about all the medication administered in this study, their detailed description and what they involve.
Treatment Groups
Study Objectives

2 intervention groups are designated in this study

This study does not include a placebo group 

Treatment Groups

Group I

Experimental
Group A will receive Dry Needling Therapy (DNT) along with routine physical therapy. Each session includes a 5-minute warm-up, stretching, and strengthening exercises. Hamstring stretches will be done with the child supine, one leg flat, and the opposite hip flexed to 90°. Active knee extension will be held for 5 seconds, followed by a 40-second assisted stretch, repeated five times. If a short psoas is detected, psoas stretching will be done prone, with assisted hip extension for 5 seconds and a 40-second hold, repeated five times. Strengthening exercises, including squats, heel rises, and step-ups with a loaded backpack, will target the lower extremities. The program lasts one month with three sessions per week, gradually increasing in intensity. Dry Needling (DN) uses 0.30 × 50 mm needles, applying the fast-in, fast-out technique for 1 minute per muscle. DN is done once per week for 10 weeks, with at least 48 hours between treatments.

Group II

Sessions will include a 5-minute warm-up, stretching, and strengthening exercises. Hamstring stretches will be done with the child supine, one leg flat, and the opposite hip flexed to 90°. Active knee extension will be held for 5 seconds, followed by a 40-second assisted stretch, repeated five times. If a short psoas is detected, a prone psoas stretch will involve assisted hip extension for 5 seconds, followed by a 40-second hold, repeated five times. Strengthening exercises like squats, heel raises, and step-ups with a loaded backpack will target the lower extremities. The program will last one month, with three weekly sessions focusing on hamstring stretches and progressive resistance exercises.

Study Objectives

Primary Objectives

Secondary Objectives

Study Centers

These are the hospitals, clinics, or research facilities where the trial is being conducted. You can find the location closest to you and its status.

This study has 1 location

Suspended

Riphah International University

Lahore, PakistanOpen Riphah International University in Google Maps
CompletedOne Study Center