SynthesisJournal of neuroengineering and rehabilitation2025
Safety and effectiveness of non-invasive brain stimulation on mobility and balance function in children with cerebral palsy: a systematic review and meta-analysis.
Synthesis in Journal of neuroengineering and rehabilitation, 2025. The graph could read no effect estimate from its abstract, so it casts no vote on the map. Cited by 5 papers, 2 of them syntheses that pooled it.
What it found
Each row is one number read from the abstract, on the scale the paper reported it, with its interval. Left of the dashed line favours the treatment, right favours the comparator. Under each row is the sentence it came from. New to these charts? A ten-minute tutorial.
The abstract states no effect estimate the extractor could read, or names no intervention and outcome on the map, so this paper lights no cell and moves no belief. It is still indexed, cited and linked below.
The trial behind it
Trials whose registry record cites this paper, or whose number appears in the abstract. A trial that started after this paper was published is citing it as background, not reporting it.
Neither the registry nor the abstract names a trial number. If this is a trial report, that itself is worth knowing.
Who cites it
5 citing papers in PubMed, 2 syntheses or guidelines pooled it.
- Optimal exercise dose and training modalities for improving gross motor function in children with cerebral palsy: a systematic review and Bayesian network meta-analysis of RCTs.European journal of pediatrics · 2026Pooled it
- Pooled it
- Comparative Outcomes of a Pediatric Walking Rehabilitation Robot Combined With Repetitive Transcranial Magnetic Stimulation in Children With Spastic Cerebral Palsy: Protocol for a Prospective Observational Study.JMIR research protocols · 2026Article
- Repetitive transcranial magnetic stimulation for freezing of gait in Parkinson's disease: a systematic review and meta-analysis.Clinical parkinsonism & related disorders · 2026Review
- Effectiveness of Electrical Stimulation on Upper Limb Function in Children and Young People with Hemiplegic Cerebral Palsy: A Systematic Review.Journal of clinical medicine · 2025Review
Corrections and comments
PubMed lists nothing against this paper. Absence here is not a guarantee, only a check that was made.
Authors and funding
10 authors.
Funding
Abstract
backgroundChildren with cerebral palsy (CP) experience significant mobility and balance impairments. Non-invasive brain stimulation (NIBS), including transcranial direct current stimulation (tDCS) and repetitive transcranial magnetic stimulation (rTMS), has emerged as a potential therapeutic intervention. Nevertheless, the safety and effectiveness of NIBS in children with CP remain uncertain and require further investigation. This study aimed to evaluate the safety and effectiveness of NIBS in improving mobility and balance function in children with CP.
methodsRandomized controlled trials written in English were searched in five databases (PubMed, Embase, Scopus, Web of Science, and ProQuest), from the first available records in each database to April 2024. Statistical analysis focused on outcomes related to mobility and balance function immediately following intervention and one-month follow-up.
resultsA total of 16 studies encompassing 346 children with CP, aged 3-14 years, were included. The meta-analysis indicated that NIBS is safe and well-tolerated [Risk Difference = 0.16, 95% CI - 0.01-0.33], with a low incidence of adverse events. Significant improvements were observed in mobility post-intervention and at one-month follow-up, particularly in Gross Motor Function Measure scores [standard mean difference (SMD) = 0.47 to 0.63, P < 0.05]. Gait parameters, including gait velocity (SMD = 1.28, P < 0.01) and stride length (SMD = 0.70, P = 0.01) showed immediate improvements. However, no significant improvements were found in balance post-tDCS or at follow-up.
conclusionsOur findings support the use of NIBS as a safe and feasible tool for enhancing mobility in children with CP, demonstrating both immediate and sustained improvements in gait parameters such as velocity and stride length. However, the impact on balance remains inconclusive. Future research should focus on extending follow-up periods, increasing sample sizes, and exploring tailored stimulation protocols to better understand the long-term efficacy and optimal application of NIBS in pediatric populations.
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Read under generation 80e0d062 · epoch 390. Bibliography from PubMed, PubMed Central and OpenAlex; grants from NIH RePORTER; trial links from ClinicalTrials.gov; estimates, votes and beliefs from the OpenQuestion graph.