An interventional study of Hippotherapy Program and Special Education Program in Cerebral Palsy, Congenital, sponsored by Fenerbahce University. Not yet recruiting at 1 site in Turkey (Türkiye). Open to participants aged 7 Years to 15 Years. Per ClinicalTrials.gov, last updated 2026-08-04.
Sponsored by Fenerbahce University · Not applicable, Interventional, and Treatment
Cerebral palsy is a group of permanent disorders affecting movement and posture due to non-progressive disturbances in the developing brain. The aim of this study is to investigate the effects of hippotherapy on physical function, including balance, trunk control, posture, and handgrip strength, as well as bladder and bowel symptoms and family quality of life in children with cerebral palsy.
Cerebral palsy is a group of permanent disorders of movement and posture caused by non-progressive disturbances in the developing brain. Children with cerebral palsy may experience limitations in balance, trunk control, posture, mobility, and daily activities.
During hippotherapy, the rhythmic and multidirectional movements of the horse provide continuous sensory and motor stimulation, requiring the child to make repeated postural adjustments. These characteristics may support balance, postural control, muscle activation, and functional performance.
Although the effects of hippotherapy on motor function in children with cerebral palsy have been investigated, evidence regarding its combined effects on physical function, bladder and bowel symptoms, and family quality of life remains limited. Therefore, the present study aims to investigate the effects of hippotherapy on physical function-including balance, trunk control, posture, and handgrip strength-as well as bladder and bowel symptoms and family quality of life in children with cerebral palsy. The findings may contribute to the literature and provide guidance for rehabilitation practices.
1,936 studies on the registry are indexed under Cerebral Palsy; 458 are open to participants now.
This study's planned enrollment of 30 is below the median of 34 across 1,431 interventional studies indexed under Cerebral Palsy.
Browse Cerebral Palsy studies →Fenerbahce University is the lead sponsor of 74 studies on the registry; 44 are open to participants now.
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Exclusion Criteria:
Underlined terms in the criteria open these too. Explained by clinicaltrials.gg, not part of the registry record. The study team decides who can take part.
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Before you join, the study team explains what taking part involves — its purpose, what happens, the risks and possible benefits — and answers your questions, so you can decide freely. Consent is usually recorded on a form (the informed consent form, ICF) signed by you or, where the law allows, by someone legally authorised to decide for you.
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Contraindication
A reason a treatment, test or procedure should not be given to a particular person, such as an allergy, another illness or a medicine they take.
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Informed consent
Before you join, the study team explains what taking part involves — its purpose, what happens, the risks and possible benefits — and answers your questions, so you can decide freely. Consent is usually recorded on a form (the informed consent form, ICF) signed by you or, where the law allows, by someone legally authorised to decide for you.
You can keep asking questions during the study, you are told of new information that matters, and you can choose to leave at any time.
Explained by clinicaltrials.gg, not part of the registry record. The study team decides who can take part.
Other: Hippotherapy Program
Other: Special Education Program
Participants will receive 30-minute hippotherapy sessions once weekly for 8 weeks in addition to their ongoing special education program. The program will include exercises targeting balance, postural control, trunk stabilization, coordination, muscle strength, upper extremity function, and sensory processing.
Participants will continue their ongoing special education program throughout the 8-week study period. The program includes educational activities, speech and language therapy, occupational therapy, proprioceptive activities, and sensory-based interventions according to the individual needs of the child.
Balance
Balance will be assessed using the Pediatric Balance Scale, a 14-item scale evaluating sitting balance, standing balance, transfers, reaching, turning, and stepping activities. The total score ranges from 0 to 56, with higher scores indicating better balance performance. The scale will be administered by a physiotherapist.
Time frame: Baseline and at the end of the 8-week intervention
Trunk Control
Trunk control will be assessed using the Trunk Control Measurement Scale. The total score ranges from 0 to 58, with higher scores indicating better trunk control. The assessment will be administered by a physiotherapist.
Time frame: Baseline and at the end of the 8-week intervention
Posture
Postural alignment will be assessed using the New York Posture Rating Chart. The total score ranges from 13 to 65, with higher scores indicating better postural alignment. The assessment will be performed by a physiotherapist.
Time frame: Baseline and at the end of the 8-week intervention
Handgrip Strength
Handgrip strength will be measured in kilograms using a hand dynamometer. Three measurements will be obtained for each hand, with a 1-minute rest period between measurements. The mean value of the three measurements will be used in the analysis. Higher values indicate greater handgrip strength.
Time frame: Baseline and at the end of the 8-week intervention
Bladder and Bowel Symptoms
Bladder and bowel symptoms will be assessed using the Bladder and Bowel Dysfunction Questionnaire. The total score ranges from 0 to 52, with higher scores indicating greater symptom severity. The questionnaire will be completed by the child with parental assistance.
Time frame: Baseline and at the end of the 8-week intervention
Familiy Quality of Life
Family quality of life will be assessed using the Cerebral Palsy Quality of Life Questionnaire-Primary Caregiver Form (CP QOL-Child). Each domain is scored from 0 to 100, with higher scores indicating better quality of life. The questionnaire will be completed by the child's parent or primary caregiver.
Time frame: Baseline and at the end of the 8-week intervention
Plan to share: No — Individual participant data will not be shared because the current ethics approval and informed consent procedures do not include sharing data with external researchers. In addition, the study involves a vulnerable pediatric population. Only aggregated and de-identified study results will be reported.
No publications or documents are linked to this record.
Start is estimated for Aug 2026; primary completion for Mar 2027, 7 months later.
Of 902 non-industry interventional studies with no phase under Cerebral Palsy, half reached primary completion within 12 months of starting (the median), counting those still running; a quarter within 5 and three quarters within 31. This study's planned 7 months is below that.
Counting every sponsor, half of 921 studies reached it within 12 months; a quarter within 5 and three quarters within 31.
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This study is not yet recruiting, as verified in Jul 2026. You cannot join it, but the record below documents what was studied.
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Fenerbahce University