Active clinical trials for "Cerebral Palsy"

The purpose of this study is to investigate lower limb impairments in children with bilateral cerebral palsy during stepping tasks.

Balance reactions and postural control are inadequate in children with CP which affect their daily living activities. So, different treatment modalities have been used to improve balance for cerebral palsy children. Recently, High tone power therapy is a new quantum leap in the field of electro therapy that can be used to stimulate nerves and muscles, so this randomized controlled study will be conducted to investigate the effect of high tone power therapy on balance and quality of life in hemiparetic cerebral palsy children.

The purpose of this study is to determine the effects of Central Nervous System Stimulants, represented by Methylphenidate and Modafinil, compared to placebo control on motor performance in children with Cerebral Palsy. This study will be a triple-masked study per the American Academy of Neurology guidelines for clinical trials.

Participation in community-based activities is essential to the health and well-being of youth with physical disabilities; yet, it is extremely restricted. Emerging treatment approaches aimed at improving participation have shifted from focusing only on impaired body functions towards the performance of functional meaningful activities within the youth's natural environment. Investigators' initial results from studies in Quebec show that targeting intervention at the activity/participation level can result in improvement of impaired body functions (e.g., balance, attention, anxiety) - important components to address in rehabilitation. Investigators' team aims to continue studying the impact of participation by launching a larger more rigorous study. Investigators have partnered with major organizations providing rehabilitation services for youth as well as key community-based stakeholders including youth, clinicians, and managers, and together investigators plan to further examine whether engaging in an 8-week community-based activity individually chosen by the youth (e.g., sledge hockey, drawing, playing a musical instrument) can lead to a significant improvement in three key body functions: motor, behavioral and emotional. One hundred and fifty youth with physical disabilities living in Quebec and Ontario will participate and engage in an activity of choice. Changes in their body functions (e.g., movement, attention, mood) will be measured multiple times before, during and after engagement in the chosen activity. Findings of this study can guide clinicians, families and policy-makers to select effective approaches that not only promote participation but also facilitate additional motor and mental benefits from a single intervention. Such 'real-world' treatment approaches involving activities of choice can also increase motivation, compliance and reduce burden on the healthcare system and on the youth and families.

Adolescents with cerebral palsy (CP) have limitations to perform daily routine activities. The use of educational strategies associated to an approach based on motor learning principles was found to be effective in promoting motor outcomes in individuals with CP. The aim of the present study is to investigate the effectiveness of an intensive, goal-directed training associated with education for parents and adolescents in promoting the daily functioning of adolescents with CP. A randomized clinical trial, with 20 adolescents with CP, aged between 12 and 17 years and 11 months, and their respective caregivers. Adolescents will be randomly allocated into one of two groups: (a) intensive training of functional goals with adolescents or (b) intensive functional goal training with adolescents, including parenting and adolescent education strategies.

Cerebral Palsy (CP) refers to childhood movement and posture disorders, whose severity, patterns of motor involvement and associated impairments are very varied. It is the most prevalent type of physical disability in children. Any non-progressive central nervous system (CNS) lesion that occurs in the prenatal, perinatal and postnatal period up to 2 years of life is considered CP. Thus, the present work aims to evaluate, monitor and verify the effects of physical therapy interventions on gross motor function, spasticity, balance, muscle activation, fatigue, respiratory system, functionality and social participation in children with cerebral palsy. This work will use some evaluation scales such as the Gross Motor Function Measure (GMFM-66), the Modified Ashworth Scale (MAS), the Early Clinical Assessment of Balance (ECAB), electromyography, the Fatigue Severity Scale and the Pediatric Functional Status. Scale. In addition to questionnaires, which will be applied directly to parents/caregivers, such as the Young Children's Participation and Environment Measure (YC-PEM), the PEDI (Pediatric Evaluation Disability Inventory) and the Goal Attainment Scaling (GAS).

Whole body vibration has been widely used in rehabilitation of individuals with disabilities as well as children with cerebral palsy. Previous studies have demonstrated the efficacy of Whole body vibration on balance, gross motor function, spasticity and bone density in children with cerebral palsy. However, adding extra weight during Whole body vibration for children with cerebral palsy as a means of enhancing the potential effects of Whole body vibration is unknown. Therefore, the aim of this study is to examine the effect of Whole body vibration with weighted vest on trunk control, balance and gross motor function in children with spastic diplegia.

In individuals with cerebral palsy (CP), signals from the brain to the muscles that are required for coordinated walking are either poorly controlled or absent. This results in abnormal walking (or gait) patterns and difficulty with independent movement. The purposes of this study is to test a device - a wearable leg sleeve - that can measure the abnormal signals sent from the brain to the muscles and the resulting movements and then send signals to the muscles to help make walking easier and smoother. 20 participants with, and 10 participants without, CP are being asked to come to test the device at the Kameron Gait and Motion Analysis Center. This requires one visit, which will last approximately 2-4 hours. During this visit, participants will undergo a physical exam and will be fit for the device on their leg. The participant will be asked to move their legs while the device is on to calibrate the device, and then the participants will walk while the device is interpreting their movement patterns. Participants with cerebral palsy will additionally walk with the device on their leg in a "corrective mode," where the device will provide stimulation to certain muscles in their leg in order to improve the patient's walking pattern. Last, participants will complete an instrumented gait analysis. Gait analysis involves recording movement patterns during walking using small reflective markers and sensor taped to the participant's legs and trunk. A series of cameras and computers are used to record the leg position and the walking speed. This data will be compared to the data provided from the device.

The FBRI VTC Neuromotor Research Clinic was established and opened in May of 2013 to provide intensive therapeutic services to individuals with motor impairment secondary to neuromotor disorders. It is direct by Dr. Stephanie DeLuca and based on the principles surrounding ACQUIREc Therapy. ACQUIREc Therapy is an evidenced-based approach to pediatric constraint-induced movement therapy, which refers to a multi-component form of therapy that is focused on helping children who have asymmetric motor abilities between the two sides of the body. Historically, ACQUIREc Therapy has the unimpaired or less impaired upper extremity constrained (by a cast or a splint) while also receiving active therapy from a specially trained therapist who shapes new skills and functional activities with the child's more impaired upper extremity but who is also a licensed Occupational or Physical Therapist (OT/PT). Therapy dosages are high much higher than tradition OT or PT - often lasting many hours per day, up to 6 hours a day, 5 days a week, for 2-4 weeks. Investigators have developed further treatments based on the same principles of intensive services combined with behavior shaping for other areas of the body that are also affected by weakness (e.g., the leg and trunk) also, but which usually do not involve constraint. These have been more generally labeled ACQUIRE Therapy. All forms involve intensive, play-based therapy for children with asymmetric motor impairments of the arms and hands. The primary focus of treatment is to facilitate the acquisition of new motor skills in the child's weaker body parts through high levels of intensive therapy using scientifically-based behavioral guidelines. Therapy is also delivered in naturalistic environments. ACQUIREc Therapy as a treatment method has been tested in two randomized controlled trials, and a specific manual for its implementation has been developed. Dr. (s) Ramey and DeLuca previously founded a similar clinic, The Pediatric Neuromotor Research Clinic, at the University of Alabama at Birmingham where Dr. DeLuca directed the research clinic for 13 years and oversaw the implementation of the ACQUIREc Therapy treatment protocol in more than 400 cases. This research will involve analyzing and interpreting the clinical data of children going through clinical procedures at the FBRI VTC Neuromotor Research Clinic. All participation is voluntary and no children will denied services if families choose not to participate.

This study will assess the benefits of using mobile health system designed for individuals with chronic and complex health conditions (such as those with Spinal Cord Injury,Cerebral Palsy, Spina Bifida, and Traumatic Brain Injury) to improve their wellness and self-management skills compared to those who receive standard of care only.