Combined Task-Oriented Training and Functional Electrical Stimulation to Improve Balance and Ankle Strength in Children with Hemiparesis Aged 6 to 9

What this Trial Is About

This research aims to evaluate the combined effect of task-oriented training and functional electrical stimulation on improving ankle muscle strength and balance in children with hemiparesis. Hemiparetic cerebral palsy often causes children to favor their non-paretic side, leading to uneven walking and balance challenges. Muscle weakness affects motor function, so the study focuses on strength training alongside balance improvement to address these difficulties. Participants are divided into two groups one receives a conventional exercise program for 60 minutes, while the other group receives task-oriented training with functional electrical stimulation applied to the affected ankle muscles for 20 minutes, combined with 40 minutes of conventional exercises. The electrical stimulation uses specific parameters to activate ankle dorsiflexion, and training occurs three days a week on non-consecutive days. This combined approach targets strength and balance over an 8-week period. During the study, children undergo assessments of balance and muscle strength at the start and after 8 weeks to measure changes. The study uses tools like electrical stimulation devices and involves various exercises designed to improve balance, gait, and muscle control. Researchers monitor progress through physical evaluations and measure outcomes focused on balance and ankle muscle strength to understand the effectiveness of the combined therapy.

Effect of Task Oriented Training With Functional Electrical Stimulation on Balance in Children With Hemiparesis