Therapeutic Potential of Myofascial Structural Integration in Children With Cerebral Palsy
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ClinicalTrials.gov Identifier: NCT01815814 |
Recruitment Status :
Completed
First Posted : March 21, 2013
Last Update Posted : July 8, 2015
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The investigators hypothesize that children with spastic cerebral palsy will show greater improvements in gross motor function, associated developmental skills and growth after the 3 months of myofascial structural integration treatment, a form of deep massage, than they showed after a 3- or 6-month pre-treatment waiting period.
The investigators further hypothesize that children with spastic CP will maintain their gains in gross motor function for ≥ 3 months after completion of MSI treatment.
Condition or disease | Intervention/treatment | Phase |
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Spastic Cerebral Palsy | Other: Rolfing / Myofascial Structural Integration | Not Applicable |
- The investigators will talk to you by telephone to determine if your child is eligible for the study.
- The study lasts for a total of 12 months with the massage treatment period lasting 12 weeks.
- The study entails a total of 10 sessions of Myofascial Structural Integration therapy over the 12-week period. Each session will last one hour.
- The child will have an evaluation of motor functions and development on enrollment and at three-month intervals for a total of 5 evaluations.
Study Type : | Interventional (Clinical Trial) |
Actual Enrollment : | 38 participants |
Allocation: | Randomized |
Intervention Model: | Parallel Assignment |
Masking: | Single (Outcomes Assessor) |
Primary Purpose: | Treatment |
Official Title: | Therapeutic Potential of Myofascial Structural Integration in Children With Cerebral Palsy |
Study Start Date : | November 2011 |
Actual Primary Completion Date : | November 2014 |
Actual Study Completion Date : | November 2014 |

Arm | Intervention/treatment |
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Experimental: Rolfing After 3-Month Wait
The children in this arm receive the therapy (rolfing / myofascial structural integration) 3 months after they start the study.
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Other: Rolfing / Myofascial Structural Integration
Rolfing is similar to deep massage. It is also known as "myofascial structural integration." |
Rolfing After 6-Month Wait
The children in this arm receive the therapy (rolfing / myofascial structural integration) 6 months after they start the study.
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Other: Rolfing / Myofascial Structural Integration
Rolfing is similar to deep massage. It is also known as "myofascial structural integration." |
- Change in Gross Motor Function Measure Score [ Time Frame: at Enrollment and every 3 months thereafter for up to 12 months ]
- Change in GAITRite Mat Measures [ Time Frame: at Enrollment and every 3 months thereafter for up to 12 months ]

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Ages Eligible for Study: | 1 Year to 3 Years (Child) |
Sexes Eligible for Study: | All |
Accepts Healthy Volunteers: | No |
Inclusion Criteria:
- Children from 1 up to, but not including, 7 years of age
- Children having the diagnosis of spastic cerebral palsy
- Children who have spasticity in one or both upper or lower limbs
- Children who are classified as either Gross Motor Function Classification System (GMFCS) level 2, 3 or 4 or Manual Ability Classification System (MACS) level 2, 3, 4 or 5
Exclusion Criteria:
- Children with active seizure disorders
- Children taking more than one medication to control their seizures
- Children with severe health problems that could be exacerbated by the treatment (such as severe chronic lung disease)
- Children who have undergone surgical treatments or botulinum injections within 6 months of entering the study
- Children who have planned surgical interventions during the studies time course
- Children with sensory, cognitive or language deficits which would affect their ability to understand directions necessary for assessment.

To learn more about this study, you or your doctor may contact the study research staff using the contact information provided by the sponsor.
Please refer to this study by its ClinicalTrials.gov identifier (NCT number): NCT01815814
United States, California | |
Stanford University School of Medicine | |
Stanford, California, United States, 94305 |
Principal Investigator: | Heidi M Feldman, MD, PhD | Stanford University |
Publications:
Responsible Party: | Heidi M. Feldman, Ballinger-Swindells Professor of Developmental and Behavioral Pediatrics, Stanford University |
ClinicalTrials.gov Identifier: | NCT01815814 |
Other Study ID Numbers: |
104644 16807 ( Other Identifier: Stanford University ) |
First Posted: | March 21, 2013 Key Record Dates |
Last Update Posted: | July 8, 2015 |
Last Verified: | May 2015 |
spasticity cerebral palsy hemiplegia hemiparesis |
diplegia paraplegia quadriplegia quadriparesis |
Paralysis Cerebral Palsy Neurologic Manifestations Nervous System Diseases |
Brain Damage, Chronic Brain Diseases Central Nervous System Diseases |