Active clinical trials for "Cerebral Palsy"

Cerebral palsy (CP) can be defined as a group of disorders of movement and posture, causing activity limitation that are attributed to nonprogressive deficits that take place in the immature brain. The motor disorders of CP are often accompanied by deficits in sensation, cognition, communication, perception, behavioral and respiratory system . Children with CP have many primary motor impairments such as selective mobility, muscle weakness, abnormal muscle tone, impaired coordination between agonist-antagonist muscles and insufficient postural control. These motor impairments also lead to secondary problems such as contractures and bone deformities. Whether primer or secondary, all these problems can reduce independence in activities of daily living (ADL) by affecting CP children at different levels. There are several studies in children with CP that investigate the effects of trunk control and/or respiratory functions. However, there are very few studies examining the relationship of these functions which have direct effects on ADL. In these studies, the functions of children who are more heavily affected and unable to move have been examined. However, there are no studies examining the effect of trunk control on respiratory muscle strength in children with CP with a better mobility level. There are many factors affecting both trunk control and respiratory functions in these children. Therefore, in children with CP, who have better functional level and can move on their own, revealing the interaction between trunk control and respiratory functions may contribute significantly to the treatment process. For this reason, this study was planned to investigate the effect of trunk control on ADL and respiratory muscle strength in children with CP having a Gross Motor Functional Classification System (GMFCS) levels of 1 and 2 and to compare them with healthy children.

This project will describe and evaluate the impact of a unique partnership model designed to coordinate transfer of care by formally linking pediatric and adult heath care services. The experiences of young people receiving this model of care will be compared and contrasted against the experiences of young people receiving the current standard of care. Young people with a diagnosis of Cerebral Palsy (CP), Acquired Brain Injury in childhood (ABIc), and Spina Bifida (SB) will be followed during the transition period. Preparation for transition, health care, and transfer of care service delivery will be detailed in a process evaluation. An outcome evaluation will measure the ability of the two models of service to enable youth to maintain continuity within the health care system after transitioning from pediatric to adult care. Secondary outcomes, including how health, well-being, social participation, transition readiness, and health care utilization are affected will also be explored.

This study will classify types of hypertonia in patients with cerebral palsy and determine if the classifications are reasonable in relation to the functional task of walking. Hypertonia is an abnormal increase in muscle tension. It is a common symptom of cerebral palsy that can lead to loss of function and deformity. This study may help scientists improve evaluation criteria for hypertonia and, ultimately, treatment results. Patients with cerebral palsy who are older than 6 years of age may be eligible for this study. Candidates are screened with a medical history and clinical evaluation. Participants are asked to walk in the lab while cameras record their movement. During this test, subjects wear a t-shirt and shorts with their arms and legs wrapped with a soft, rubber-like material. A piece of firm material is attached to the rubber sleeves and small plastic reflective balls are attached to the firm material. Balls may also be attached to the skin, using an adhesive. With the balls in place, the subject walks several times while cameras record the positions of the balls. In addition, small metal electrodes attached to the skin with an adhesive measure the electrical activity in the muscles. After the walking test is completed, subjects' leg muscle strength is measured with a special device while they perform three activities. First, they sit on a special chair with their leg and foot placed in an apparatus that measures their strength, then lie on their back, then on their stomach, and then stand on one foot holding a bar to balance during part of one activity. During the activities, their reflexes are tested, they are asked to move their legs, and their legs are moved for them.

This study will examine how the brain controls eye-hand coordination (visuomotor skills) in children with spastic diplegia and will determine whether impairment of this skill is related to the learning difficulties in school that some of these children experience. Spastic diplegia is a form of cerebral palsy that affects the legs more than the hands. The brain injury causing the leg problem in this disease may also cause difficulty with eye-hand coordination. Healthy normal volunteers and children with spastic diplegia between 6 and 12 years of age may be eligible for this study. Candidates will be screened with a review of medical and school records, psychological testing, neurological and physical examinations, and assessment of muscle function in the arms and legs. Participants may undergo one or more of the following procedures: Neuropsychological testing (1 to 2 hours) - involves sitting at a computer and answering questions, such as whether the letters on the screen make up a real word. Magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) (45 minutes) - uses a strong magnetic field and radio waves to provide images of the brain. The child lies on a table in a narrow cylindrical machine while the scans are obtained. Both the child and parent wear earplugs to muffle the loud noise the radio waves make while the images are formed. Electroencephalography (EEG) and electromyography (EMG) (1 to 2 hours) - EEG uses electrodes to record the electrical activity of the brain. The electrodes are in a special cap that is worn on the head during the procedure. EMG records electrical activity from muscles. Electrodes are placed on the skin over certain muscles. During the test, the child makes simple repetitive movements, such as finger tapping. The cap and the electrodes on the skin are removed at the end of the test.

The hypothesis of this prospective, cohort study is that hyperglycemia, hypoglycemia and unstable glucose levels in the first seven days of life in infants born very preterm and at very low birth weights can harm long-term neurodevelopment. The objective of the study is to investigate the relationship between early neonatal glycemia, neonatal characteristics, and developmental outcomes in preterm infants. All infants born before 32. gestational week or below 1500 g admitted to the neonatal intensive care unit will be included in the study. According to the glucose values, the infants will be divided into the normoglycemic group and the group with disturbed glucose concentration. In the corrected age of two neurodevelopmental outcome will be assessed and categorized as normal, mild, moderate or severe impairment. Since the results of published studies about the effects of asymptomatic neonatal hypoglycemia and hyperglycemia on neurodevelopment are inconsistent, the correlation between early disturbances in glucose levels and neurodevelopmental outcome will be assessed.

Pneumonia, respiratory exacerbations, and chronic pulmonary infection are important causes of emergency admissions, hospitalisations and death in children with Neuromuscular disorders and Cerebral Palsy. Hence, there is a need for research on how to therapeutically aid airway clearance and decrease respiratory exacerbations. Studies have shown that nebulised Hypertonic Saline is well tolerated, reduces pulmonary exacerbations and improves lung function and Lung Clearance Index in patients with Cystic Fibrosis, and enhances mucociliary clearance in asthmatic patients. Nevertheless, to the investigators' knowledge, there is no available data concerning the use of nebulised Hypertonic Saline in the management of children with Neuromuscular disorders and Cerebral Palsy. This study aims to assess the effectiveness of nebulised Hypertonic Saline to decrease hospitalisations and courses of antibiotics in children with Neuromuscular disorders and Cerebral Palsy.

The aim of this study is to evaluate the changes in activity and participation domains of International Classification of Functioning, Disability and Health (ICF) in children with cerebral palsy (CP) who received integrated Botulinum Toxin-A (BoNT-A) injections into the lower limb(s) with a treatment goal of improved sitting balance.

The aim of the study is to describe pain coping strategies and their evolution in children and adolescent with cerebral palsy.

The aim of the study is to observe the effects of Intensive Neurophysiological Rehabilitation System on hand function in children with spastic cerebral palsy.

The overarching goal of this study is to improve mobility in individuals with movement disorders through advances in wearable assistance (i.e. powered orthoses).