Actively Recruiting
Postural Sway and Counterpressure Maneuvers for Pediatric Syncope
Led by Simon Fraser University · Updated on 2026-04-23
30
Participants Needed
1
Research Sites
215 weeks
Total Duration
On this page
Sponsors
S
Simon Fraser University
Lead Sponsor
P
Provincial Health Services Authority British Columbia
Collaborating Sponsor
AI-Summary
What this Trial Is About
The investigators are interested in whether discrete counterpressure maneuvers, or muscle movements in the lower body, will boost blood pressure and cardiovascular control in children who faint. We will record cardiovascular responses to maneuvers of exaggerated sway, leg crossing, crouching, and gluteal muscle tensing in children who faint (N=20), as well as their height, weight, muscularity, and pubertal (Tanner) stage. Autonomic cardiovascular control will be measured using a Valsalva manoeuvre (expiration against a closed airway for 20 seconds) and a supine-stand test. The primary outcomes are noninvasive measures of cardiovascular responses to the maneuvers (blood pressure, cerebral blood flow, and stroke volume (volume of blood pumped per heartbeat). Comparisons will be made across levels of sex, diagnosis, Tanner stage, muscularity, height, and degree of autonomic control.
CONDITIONS
Official Title
Postural Sway and Counterpressure Maneuvers for Pediatric Syncope
Who Can Participate
Eligibility Criteria
You may qualify if you...
- English-speaking children aged 6 to 18 years
- Diagnosed with recurrent fainting (at least two episodes in the past year) of vasovagal origin or associated with postural orthostatic tachycardia syndrome (POTS) as determined by a pediatric cardiologist
You will not qualify if you...
- History of suspected or confirmed cardiac arrhythmia (e.g., Wolff-Parkinson-White, Long QT)
- History of traumatic head injury
- New or recurrent seizure disorder or epilepsy
- Overdose or intoxication
- Structural heart disease
- Cardiovascular diseases including hypertension, diabetes, or kidney disease
- Hypoglycemia
- Physical or psychological disabilities that prevent test completion
- Female participants who are pregnant or think they might be pregnant
- Taking cardiovascular or orthostatic syncope medications (e.g., fludrocortisone, beta-blockers, midodrine)
- Not fully vaccinated against COVID-19 per Health Canada guidelines
AI-Screening
AI-Powered Screening
Complete this quick 3-step screening to check your eligibility
Trial Site Locations
Total: 1 location
1
Simon Fraser University
Burnaby, British Columbia, Canada, V5A1S6
Actively Recruiting
Research Team
E
Erin L Williams, BSc
CONTACT
V
Victoria E Claydon, PhD
CONTACT
How is the study designed?
Study Type
INTERVENTIONAL
Masking
NONE
Allocation
RANDOMIZED
Model
PARALLEL
Primary Purpose
TREATMENT
Number of Arms
2
Not the Right Trial for You?
Explore thousands of other clinical trials that might be a better match.
Sign up to get personalized trial recommendations delivered to your inbox.
Already have an account? Log in here