Comparative Effects of Pilates Exercises and Swiss Ball Exercises in Diplegic Cerebral Palsy.

NCT07854054 | Completed

• 1 other identifier: KANWAL MEER
• Study Type: interventional
• Target: 62
• Locations: 1 country
• Sites: 1

Brief Summary

This study will compare the effects of pilates exercise and swiss ball training on trunk control, balance and gait in children with diplegic cerebral palsy. This study will be a randomized clinical trial including 62 participants, who will be allocated into two groups. Both groups will receive their respective interventions thrice a week for 12 weeks. The participants will be evaluated at the start and end of the exercise program through The Trunk Control Measurement Scale (TCMS), Pediatric Berg Balance measurement (PBBM), Pediatric Reach Test (PRT) and Observational Gait Scale (OGS) will be used to assess the effect of this intervention on trunk control, balance and gait.

Conditions

Diplegic Cerebral Palsy

Keywords

Cerebral Palsy; Pilates Core Strengthening Exercise; Swiss Ball Exercise; Balance; Gait; Trunk Control

Outcome Measures

Primary Outcomes (1)

• Trunk Control

  Assessed using the Trunk Control Measurement Scale

  [Time Frame: Baseline and 12 weeks post-intervention]

Secondary Outcomes (2)

• Balance

  [Time Frame: Baseline and 12 weeks post-intervention]

• Gait

  [Time Frame: Baseline and 12 weeks post-intervention]

Study Arms (2)

Pilates Exercise Training Group

EXPERIMENTAL

Pilates Exercise Training Group Participants will receive pilates exercise training over 12 weeks, with increasing sets and repetitions. Each session will begin with a 5-minute warm-up and end with a 5-minute cooldown. Outcome will be assessed at baseline and after 12 weeks.

Other: Pilates Exercise Training

Swiss Ball Exercise Training

ACTIVE COMPARATOR

Swiss Ball Exercise Group Participants will receive swiss ball exercises for 12 weeks, with increasing sets and repetitions. After this, go to Interventions and add Pilates Exercise and Swiss Ball Training, then assign each intervention to its matching arm.

Other: Swiss Ball Exercise Training

Interventions

Pilates Exercise Training OTHER

Pilates Exercise Training Pilates Exercise Training Group Participants in this arm will receive prone bridge, shoulder bridge, unilateral shoulder bridge, side bridge, hundreds, leg pull supine, mermaid side stretch, and side laying clam. These exercises will be progressed over 12 weeks, with increasing sets and repetitions. Each session will begin with a 5-minute warm-up and end with a 5-minute cooldown. Treatment will be supervised by a physiotherapist, and outcomes will be assessed at baseline and after 12 weeks

Also known as: PSCS, Pilates Core Strengthening Exercise

Pilates Exercise Training Group

Swiss Ball Exercise Training OTHER

Swiss Ball Exercise Participants in this arm will receive seated positioning, diagonal movement, trunk rotation, hip flexion and extension, lifting buttocks, weight shifting, prone arm extension, and rolling to sit. These exercises will also be progressed over 12 weeks, with increasing sets and repetitions. Modifications and considerations will be made to ensure the child's safety and individual needs. Outcomes will be assessed at baseline and after 12 weeks.

Also known as: GYM Ball exercises

Swiss Ball Exercise Training

Eligibility Criteria

• Age: 7 Years - 14 Years
• Sex: all
• Healthy Volunteers: No
• Age Groups: Child (0-17)

You may qualify if:

• Aged between 7 and 14 years old both male and female
• Children diagnosed with diplegic cerebral palsy will be recruited.
• Able to perform sit-to-stand task and walking with or without assistance having full range of motion. Children with GMFCS Level I, II and III Because they all have some level of walking ability, even if they need assistance (like a Walker or Crutches).
• Children who have score above 45 on Pediatric Berg Balance Scale will be recruited.
• The children were cognitively qualified and capable of understanding and following instructions and having less than 24 score on mini mental state examination.

You may not qualify if:

• Patients with fixed contracture.
• Spinal or limb malformations.
• Visual or respiratory disorders.
• Injection of botulinum toxin into the lower limb muscles during the previous 6 months were all excluded.
• Children with GMFCS Level IV and V because they cannot walk independently or even with assistive devices. They depend on powered or manual wheelchair.

Sponsors & Collaborators

• Riphah International University: lead

Study Sites (1)

Hafiz Physiotherapy Center

Gujrat, Punjab Province, 50700, Pakistan

Location

MeSH Terms

Conditions

Cerebral Palsy

Interventions

Exercise Movement Techniques

Condition Hierarchy (Ancestors)

Brain Damage, Chronic; Brain Diseases; Central Nervous System Diseases; Nervous System Diseases

Intervention Hierarchy (Ancestors)

Physical Therapy Modalities; Therapeutics

Study Officials

• Fatima Tariq

  Riphah International University Role

  PRINCIPAL INVESTIGATOR

Study Design

• Study Type: interventional
• Phase: not applicable
• Allocation: RANDOMIZED
• Masking: SINGLE
• Who Masked: OUTCOMES ASSESSOR
• Masking Details: A single-blinded design will be implemented: the outcome assessor will remain blinded to group allocation to minimize measurement bias and enhance the reliability of results.
• Purpose: TREATMENT
• Intervention Model: PARALLEL
• Sponsor Type: OTHER
• Responsible Party: SPONSOR

Model Details: Participants will be randomly allocated into two equal groups: Pilates Exercise Training Group and Swiss Ball Exercise Group.

Study Record Dates

• First Submitted: September 27, 2026
• First Posted: October 2, 2026
• Study Start: June 1, 2025
• Primary Completion: July 6, 2026
• Study Completion: August 6, 2026
• Last Updated: October 2, 2026

Record last verified: 2026-09

Data Sharing

• IPD Sharing: Will not share

Locations

PA (1)