The Effect of Inspiratory Muscle Training on Functional Gain in Cerebral Palsy: A Randomised Controlled Trial

Launched by SADIK EMRE ÇELEBİ · Jun 26, 2025

Keywords

ClinConnect Summary

This clinical trial is studying whether a special type of breathing exercise, called inspiratory muscle training, can help children and teenagers with cerebral palsy (CP) improve their breathing strength, swallowing, balance, and overall movement abilities. The study focuses on young people aged 5 to 18 years who have mild to moderate motor difficulties from CP and can understand spoken or written instructions. Families must agree in writing for their child to take part.

If your child is eligible, they will be asked to participate in breathing exercises designed to strengthen the muscles used for breathing. The study will look at how these exercises affect their ability to breathe, control their body, move their arms, and swallow food safely. The trial will not include children who have recent infections, recent surgeries, serious heart or lung problems, or difficulties that would make it hard to follow instructions. This research aims to help doctors better understand how breathing training might improve daily function and health in children with cerebral palsy.

Gender

ALL

Eligibility criteria

• Inclusion Criteria:
• • Level I or II according to the Gross Motor Function Classification System (GMFCS)
• • Communication skills sufficient to understand spoken or written language
• • Diagnosed with cerebral palsy (CP) by a paediatric neurologist
• • Aged between 5 and 18 years old
• • Participants whose families have given written consent to participate in the study will be included in the study.
• Exclusion Criteria:
• • Those who have had a respiratory tract infection within the last month,
• • Those with haemodynamic instability (heart rate \> 150 beats/minute, systolic blood pressure \> 140 mmHg or diastolic blood pressure \> 90 mmHg),
• • Those who have undergone orthopaedic surgery or botulinum toxin injection within the last six months,
• • Participants with severe chest infections or existing respiratory problems that would prevent them from participating in the study,
• • Participants with mental or auditory dysfunction that would prevent them from participating in the assessment and intervention processes are planned to be excluded from the study.