Evidence map›Paper›PMID 42372249›Full record

ArticleJMIR research protocols2026

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.

Weiyi Huang, Cuihua Shan, Xiaoyu Shen, Jianguo Zhong

Abstract readClinical Trial Protocol
In one paragraph

Article in JMIR research protocols, 2026. The graph could read no effect estimate from its abstract, so it casts no vote on the map. Not yet cited in PubMed.

0numbers the graph read from it
0cells of the map it votes in
0citing papers in PubMed
–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

0 citing papers in PubMed.

No citing paper in PubMed yet.

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

4 authors.

Weiyi HuangSchool of Laboratory Medicine, Chengdu Medical College, Chengdu, Sichuan, China.ORCID 0009-0002-7266-5549
Cuihua ShanRehabilitation Department, China National Nuclear Corporation 416 Hospital, The 2nd Affiliated Hospital of Chengdu Medical College, Chengdu, Sichuan, China.ORCID 0009-0000-9529-722X
Xiaoyu Shen *Rehabilitation Department, China National Nuclear Corporation 416 Hospital, The 2nd Affiliated Hospital of Chengdu Medical College, Chengdu, Sichuan, China.ORCID 0000-0003-0697-7368
Jianguo Zhong *Rehabilitation Department, China National Nuclear Corporation 416 Hospital, The 2nd Affiliated Hospital of Chengdu Medical College, Chengdu, Sichuan, China.ORCID 0009-0009-7599-3864

Funding

No grant is acknowledged in the PubMed record.

6 · The paper itself

Abstract

backgroundCerebral palsy (CP) is a prevalent neurodevelopmental disorder in children, often leading to long-term motor impairments. Rehabilitation robotics has emerged as a promising approach in pediatric neurorehabilitation, offering precise and repetitive motor training. Repetitive transcranial magnetic stimulation (rTMS), a noninvasive neuromodulation technique, has shown potential in modulating cortical excitability and improving motor function in children with CP.

objectiveThis study aims to evaluate the association between a combined intervention using a pediatric gait rehabilitation robot and rTMS in children with spastic CP.

methodsThis prospective observational study will enroll 108 children with spastic CP who meet the inclusion criteria. Participants will be allocated to either an intervention group (robot-assisted gait training combined with rTMS) or a comparison group (conventional rehabilitation therapy) based on their guardians' preference after standardized information provision. The assignment is nonrandomized and will be documented prospectively. Interventions will be delivered 5 times per week for 8 weeks. Outcomes will be assessed at baseline, week 4, and week 8 using 3D gait analysis, neuromuscular electromyography, the Gross Motor Function Measure-88, and the Modified Ashworth Scale. Comparative analyses will be conducted to evaluate the outcomes of the combined intervention relative to standard rehabilitation. Findings are expected to provide evidence supporting integrated neuromodulation and robotic therapy in pediatric CP rehabilitation.

resultsThis study was funded in 2024. Study recruitment began in January 2025, and as of June 2026, enrollment is ongoing; exact recruitment numbers are being verified with the research coordinator. This study has been approved by the ethics committee (YJ-2025-020-01) and supported by grants S2024094 and CDS2018Z005. Outcomes will be assessed at baseline, week 4, and week 8 via 3D gait analysis, electromyography, Gross Motor Function Measure-88, Modified Ashworth Scale. Data collection is expected to be complete in December 2027, and the data will be analyzed with SPSS. The results are expected to be published in spring 2028.

conclusionsThis study evaluates the comparative outcomes associated with a pediatric gait rehabilitation robot combined with rTMS for children with spastic CP. Positive findings would suggest a preliminary association between the multimodal protocol and better motor function (including improved gait performance and reduced muscle spasticity), without implying causality. Such results would provide a new evidence-based option for pediatric spastic CP rehabilitation.

trial registrationChinese Clinical Trial Registry ChiCTR2500105823; https://www.chictr.org.cn/showproj.html?proj=274950. INTERNATIONAL REGISTERED REPORT IDENTIFIER (IRRID): DERR1-10.2196/93798.

Indexed as

Cerebral PalsyRoboticsTranscranial Magnetic StimulationWalkingAdolescentChildChild, PreschoolFemaleHumansMaleObservational Studies as TopicProspective StudiesTreatment Outcomecerebral palsyCPrehabilitation medicinerehabilitation robotrepetitive transcranial magnetic stimulationrTMS

Identifiers

PMID42372249
PMCPMC13365889

What OpenQuestion holds

Textmetadata
LicenceCC BY
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.