Effects of the combination of exercise with noninvasive brain stimulation on motor function and spasticity in children with cerebral palsy: A systematic review and meta-analysis.

Yunwei Wang, Wenbo Fan, Ruihan Wang, Shiming Li, Shuoqi Li

Abstract readSystematic ReviewMeta-Analysis

In one paragraph

Synthesis in European journal of pediatrics, 2025. The graph could read no effect estimate from its abstract, so it casts no vote on the map. Cited by 2 papers, 1 of them a synthesis that pooled it.

0numbers the graph read from it

0cells of the map it votes in

2citing papers in PubMed, 1 pooled it

–field-weighted citation impact

1 · What the graph read from 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.

2 · The registry

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.

3 · Its place in the literature

Who cites it

2 citing papers in PubMed, 1 synthesis or guideline pooled it.

4 · The record

Corrections and comments

PubMed lists nothing against this paper. Absence here is not a guarantee, only a check that was made.

5 · Who and what money

Authors and funding

5 authors.

Yunwei WangSchool of Sports Science, Nantong University, No. 9 Siyuan Road, Nantong, 226019, Jiangsu Province, China.

Wenbo FanDepartment of Physical Education , Ocean University of China, No.238 Songling Road, Qingdao City, 266100, Shandong Province, China.

Ruihan WangSchool of Sports Science, Nantong University, No. 9 Siyuan Road, Nantong, 226019, Jiangsu Province, China.

Shiming LiDepartment of Physical Education , Ocean University of China, No.238 Songling Road, Qingdao City, 266100, Shandong Province, China. haiyanglishiming@163.com.

Shuoqi LiSchool of Sports Science, Nantong University, No. 9 Siyuan Road, Nantong, 226019, Jiangsu Province, China. lishuoqi@ntu.edu.cn.

Funding

Nantong University Doctoral Initiation Fund 135423619048Research Project on Undergraduate Teaching Reform in Shandong Province Z2024065Shandong Provincial Natural Science Foundation of China ZR2022MC205

6 · The paper itself

Abstract

Cerebral palsy (CP) includes persistent movement impairments that affect posture or mobility. Noninvasive brain stimulation (NIBS) results in structural and, consequently, functional changes. In this review, the effects of exercise with and without NIBS on gross motor function (MF) and muscle spasticity in children with CP were evaluated through a meta-analysis. Systematic searches of six databases for eligible studies were performed, with a subsequent screen of the retrieved studies. The inclusion criteria were as follows: 1) children with CP; 2) randomized controlled trials; 3) children received exercise and NIBS therapy; 4) the study conducted pre- and posttests, which included tests of MF and muscle spasticity; and 5) publications in English or Chinese. The Cochrane risk of bias assessment tool was used to evaluate the quality of the selected studies. The standardized mean difference (SMD) was selected as the appropriate index for determining the effect, and RevMan 5.4 software was used to analyze the mean differences in the selected studies. (Registration number: CRD420251021673). The effects of the intervention on MF and muscle spasticity in children with CP in the experimental group (EG) and control group (CG) were analyzed in seven and four selected studies, respectively. Consequently, compared with the CG, the EG demonstrated greater improvement in MF [SMD, 1.25 (0.89, 1.62), p < 0.05; I

Indexed as

Cerebral PalsyExercise TherapyMuscle SpasticityTranscranial Direct Current StimulationTranscranial Magnetic StimulationChildCombined Modality TherapyHumansRandomized Controlled Trials as TopicTreatment OutcomeCerebral palsyChildrenExerciseMotor functionNoninvasive brain stimulation

Identifiers

PMID41272378

DOI10.1016/S1474-4422(23)00004-2

What OpenQuestion holds

Textmetadata

Read underepoch 390

Registered trials

None linked

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.