Active clinical trials for "Cerebral Palsy"

The aim of this randomized, stratified, single-blinded study is to compare two home based strength-training protocols (High Intensity Interval Training and Progressive Resistance Training) and their effects on muscle strength, gait and aerobic and anaerobic capacity in children with cerebral palsy.

Periventricular Leukomalacia (PVL) is a white matter lesion surrounding the lateral ventricles of the brain occurring in the prenatal period, associated with a disorder of movement and posture, known as bilateral cerebral palsy. Children with PVL and bilateral cerebral palsy have spared verbal abilities, as measured by verbal Intelligence Quotient (verbal IQ) tests, while non-verbal intelligence and especially visuo-perceptual and visuo-spatial abilities are impaired. In addition some studies underline the impact of PVL also on executive function, especially in terms of working memory and in the ability to inhibit distraction. Working Memory is the ability to retain and manipulate information for brief periods of time. It is important in several complex cognitive functions, such as academic learning and in planning and organizing daily life activities. School-based activities, indeed, such as math and reading depend on a student's ability to pay attention to several instructions or information and to hold and integrate them in their mind. Recent behavioural and neurofunctional studies describes the effect of an evidence-based and computer-based training on working memory, the Cogmed Working MemoryTraining. Functional MRI show increase in parietal and prefrontal activity after this training, while the behavioural data demonstrate the generalization of this effect also on cognitive functions not directly trained, as attention, inhibition, learning and non-verbal reasoning. Cogmed Working MemoryTraining (RoboMemo®, CogMed-Cognitive Medical Systems, Stockholm, Sweden) is an online treatment comprising a number of visuo-spatial and verbal exercises that vary automatically depending on the individual child's performance in any given task. The training period is intensive and includes 25 home session for five weeks, 30-45 minutes each day. A Cogmed-trained coach monitors training progress and participants' commitment daily. Only one ongoing study has used the CogMed training in children with cerebral palsy, but without investigating the correlation between behavioural findings with neurofunctional data. The aim of this study is to analyze the effect of the working memory training with CogMed on trained and not directly trained cognitive abilities and on the changes in cortical electrophysiological reorganization during the sleep after training. The sleep analysis will be focused in particular on the slow waves activity [frequency range of 1-4.5 Hz] and on the sleep spindle [frequency range of 12-14Hz], which reflect the depth of sleep and are related to memory processes, learning and brain plasticity. The results of this project will shed light on the mechanisms of neuroplasticity, by enhancing knowledge on the neuropsychological effects of a specific working memory training and on the neurophysiological underpinnings of these behavioural effects in a clinical population of children with congenital brain lesions, as PVL.

This study evaluates the effectiveness of a voiding reeducation program as treatment for incontinence in children with a brain injury.

The purpose of this study is to design and evaluation the feasibility, effects of Kinect-based Computer Games as Upper Extremity Training Tool in Children with Cerebral Palsy.

Cerebral Palsy (CP) is the most common cause of physical disability in childhood. Up to day the investigators have treated children diagnosed cerebral palsy with side-alternating whole body vibration (System Galileo®) from the age of two years on. Considering verticalisation (standing and walking) at about 12 months of age in a normal developing child the investigators suggest the introduction of verticalisation with whole body vibration to a child with CP at this early age in order to enhance motor development and participation. In this pilot study the investigators will test the feasibility and the effect on motor development of whole body vibration in children with CP from 12 months of age. The investigators will investigate the effect of whole body vibration on motor performance, independence in all day living situations, quality of life and contractures compared to a control group.

This study will evaluate the safety and efficacy of BOTOX® (botulinum toxin Type A) in pediatric patients with lower limb spasticity.

Children with cerebral palsy commonly use standing frames to position them to help prevent contracture and deformity and to help their function. There is a lack of evidence to support the correct dosage of standing frame use. The aim of this study is to pilot a randomised controlled trial of the clinical effects of doubling the duration of standing, using standing frames, in young children who are unable to walk, who have cerebral palsy or developmental delay. It will determine whether it is feasable to carry out a multi-centred trial. The study objectives will be to determine: presence of adverse events recruitment and drop out rate compliance with the intervention feasibility of the randomisation and minimisation process the proportion of the outcome measures taken effect size estimate required study costs effectiveness of blinding procedure

Children with cerebral palsy (CP) have life-long motor disorders and are typically subjected to extensive treatment throughout childhood. Despite this there is a lack of evidence supporting the effectiveness of treatment aiming at improving motor function and activity in daily life. The primary area of interest of this research programme is to determine the effectiveness of an early intervention program in children younger than 12 months of age who are at risk of developing CP. A randomised control trial is planned, addressing hand use, mobility and communication in a home-based program. New treatment principles based on recent knowledge of brain plasticity will be employed. The overarching goal of this research programme is to develop and evaluate new intervention principles for children with neurodevelopmental disorders based upon theories of early learning induced brain plasticity. Our overall aims can be formulated as follows: To evaluate the effects of an early intervention programme on the overall development in children with risk of developing cerebral palsy and other neurodevelopmental disorders. The program includes intensive intervention towards the foci: hand use, mobility and communication in a home based program The hypothesis is that the design of the Small-Step-Program intervention, with clear foci on specific areas of development during different time periods and conducted in the child's home environment, will facilitate development and be more effective than usual care. The second hypothesis is that children learn what they practice, meaning that children will have a more rapid development within the focus of each specific step in the training, when compared to the, for the time being, untrained steps. The third hypothesis is that children's ability to learn within the different steps of the intervention programme will be influenced by the specific characteristics of any underlying brain pathology. The fourth hypothesis is that parents in the study group will be less stressed and can better cope with their child's situation than parents to children receiving usual care. Thus, the tools provided within the Small-Step-Program intervention, like education, supervision and feedback of how to practice communication and task performance will make parents more able to cope with the child's delayed development.

The effect of breathing biofeedback training to influence the function of the cardiac autonomic nervous system at rest and in activity in children with cerebral palsy. Cerebral palsy children suffer from a non-progressive damage of the brain. It is the most common injury that causes physical handicapped in childhood. There are a few researches that investigated the autonomic function in cerebral palsy children. Those researches found hyperactivity of the sympathetic autonomic system, including high resting heart rate compare to their typically developed pears. The recommended treatment for cerebral palsy is activity, muscle strengthening and mobility. The impairment in the autonomic system influences the everyday function and has correlation with secondary morbidity. As far as we know there are no researches who investigated the following issues. In this study we would like to: Describe the autonomic cardiac function, Breathing function, motor function and the correlation between them in children with cerebral palsy. Compare the autonomic cardiac function at rest in aerobic test and in diaphragmatic breathing. Test the influence of breathing training on Heart rate variability parameters at rest, in aerobic test right after the breathing training program and one month after, in children with cerebral palsy

The objective of this study is to investigate the efficacy and safety of NT 201 compared with placebo for the treatment of chronic troublesome sialorrhea associated with neurological disorders (e.g. cerebral palsy, traumatic brain injury) and/or intellectual disability in children and adolescents naïve to Botulinum neurotoxin treatment and aged 2-17 years.