Active clinical trials for "Cerebral Palsy"

Purpose: The aim of this study was to investigate the effects of dynamic elastomeric fabric orthoses (DEFOs) used for lower trunk and pelvis on balance, gait parameters, and pelvis symmetry in children with cerebral palsy. Materials and Methods: Twenty-two children (7 girls, 15 boys) in an age range of 4-10 years, with spastic type cerebral palsy, and at gross motor function classification system levels 1 or 2 were included in the study. Children who met the inclusion criteria were randomly divided into two groups. Ten children were included in the control group (Group I) and 12 children were included in the orthosis group (Group II). Both groups received a physiotherapy and rehabilitation program twice a week for 8 weeks in accordance with neurodevelopmental treatment approaches. Children in Group II were treated with DEFOs in lower body and pelvis in addition to physiotherapy and rehabilitation sessions. The use frequency of the orthosis was extended over the course of the week during which they were active for 8 hours a day. After the demographic data of the children were recorded, the Pediatric Balance Scale and the Timed Up and Go Test were used for balance assessment. Gait parameters and kinematic values of the pelvis were evaluated using the BTS G-Walk®, a wireless mini digital gait analysis system.

The overall aim of this project is to investigate the clinical utility of the Andago System, a CE certified mobile bodyweight supporting walking robot, in children with neuromotor disorders. Clinical utility encompasses practicability, acceptability, appropriateness, and accessibility. In this study, the investigators would like to investigate several aspects of clinical utility that belong to the first three components.

The goal of this study is to characterize individual responses to a single application of transcranial direct current stimulation (tDCS) in children with unilateral cerebral palsy (UCP), and to test which electrode configuration produces changes in brain excitability and motor function. Participants with UCP, ages 7-21 years, will be assigned to one of four tDCS groups. Using single-pulse transcranial magnetic stimulation, the investigators will assess cortical excitability before and at regular intervals up to 1 hour following tDCS. The knowledge gained from this study will advance the field through more targeted approaches of neuromodulatory techniques in this population and others, using individual characteristics to guide optimal treatment

There are critical knowledge gaps that need to be addressed to understand the impact of aerobic exercise programs on relevant functional outcomes in adults with developmental disabilities (DD). This study will build upon previous literature by examining the impact of a 10-week (2x a week; 60-minutes per session) virtual adapted aerobic dance intervention (adapted Zumba®) in adults with DD ages 20-69 (n=58). Participants will be quasi-randomized to one of three groups: control (normal activities), low-tempo Zumba®, and high-tempo Zumba®. The quasi-randomization enables the investigators to ensure similarities in relevant demographic factors (e.g., disability type, age, sex) across the three groups. This design will enable the investigators to determine the effects of Zumba® and the impact of tempo level on relevant outcome measures. Participants will compete testing three times - pre-test, post-test, and a 4-week follow-up test - to determine the immediate and long-term benefits of Zumba®. Changes in functional mobility (Timed Up-And-Go), balance (Clinical Test of Sensory Interaction on Balance), aerobic capacity (6-minute Walk Test), and executive functioning (Flanker) will be assessed. During the program, participants' moderate-to-vigorous physical activity (MVPA) will be measured using accelerometry. Compared to the control group, the investigators hypothesize that both Zumba groups will show an improvement in body composition, balance, functional mobility, executive functioning, aerobic capacity, and MVPA during the program. Moreover, the investigators hypothesize that the high tempo group will improve body composition, balance, functional mobility, executive functioning, aerobic capacity, and MVPA during the program more than the low tempo.

This project will develop the first sensor-based mobile Pelvic Assist Device (mPAD) that can deliver precise, adaptable, pelvic control to restore natural coordination of upper- and lower-limb movements during gait in children with Cerebral Palsy

In France, Cerebral Palsy (CP) affects 1 in 450 births. It results from lesions of the brain, before, during, or shortly after birth. These non-progressive lesions cause muscle impairments, responsible for activity limitations. These muscle impairments include muscle stiffness, and muscle weakness. Children with Unilateral CP (UCP) have these impairments on only one side of the body. To compensate for activity limitations with their impaired arm, these children over-use their non-impaired arm. The objective of constraint-induced therapy (CIT) is to minimize this asymmetry which deteriorates mobility on the impaired side, by forcing the child to only use its impaired arm several hours a day during several weeks of therapy. It is known using clinical tests that this therapy improves the overall motor function of the impaired arm. However, the underlying mechanisms are yet unknown. An understanding of these mechanisms would suggest ways to maximize the effectiveness of this therapy, which requires a significant commitment from the child and its family. The investigaors propose in this project a quantitative and objective evaluation of the effect of CIT on the movements of the impaired arm of children with UCP. The investogators focus their analysis on muscle activation, to assess which aspect of muscle impairments is modified by CIT. To this end, the investigators will use sensors identical to those already used in clinics for the Quantified Gait Analysis of children with CP, recognized since 2006 by the Haute Autorité de Santé as providing key supplementary data in the evaluation of complex gait disorders. Results from this study will provide leads to optimize CIT. Some children could for example benefit from CIT paired with treatments to reduce muscle stiffness or to strengthen muscles

The aim of the study is to evaluate a short term influence of the Spinal Manipulation (SM) on the wrist muscles spasticity and manual dexterity in children with spastic Cerebral Palsy. Effect of SM and imitation of the SM has to be compared in the double-blinded randomized clinical trial.

This study was designed to examine the effect of incentive spirometry in pulmonary rehabilitation of children with cerebral palsy. The incentive spirometer, a device that can help improve breathing and strengthen inspiratory muscles. If the patient assigned to training group, the subjects started to respiratory muscle strengthening exercise using incentive spirometry. The training was performed ten sessions daily, for 4 weeks. Respiratory function tests including forced vital capacity, forced expiratory volume in 1 second, Peak cough flow, maximal phonation time were compared before interventions and at the end of exercise.

Lite Run is a new assistive device that may have FDA listing as a Class I device by mid 2017 based on clinical testing of adults, independent agency testing and in-house evaluations. This will be a combined study with multiple purposes with respect to the evaluation of its use with the post-operative pediatric population. A first purpose is to verify safety and feasibility of the device on pediatric patients. A second purpose is to statistically test the effectiveness of Lite Run to decrease physical burden on the therapist during post-operative gait training for children and adolescents with cerebral palsy as compared to current methods of body weight-supported gait training. A third purpose is to measure and qualitatively evaluate the effectiveness of the device on patient outcomes and improving patient and therapist satisfaction.

People with central nervous system disorders such as spinal cord injury, stroke, cerebral palsy, Parkinson's disease, multiple sclerosis, etc… often have impaired lower extremity function that limits activities of daily life and independence. Different body-weight support systems have been developed to facilitate the rehabilitation process by compensating for the user's residual abilities. However, studies on weight-supported gait training on a treadmill have failed to show superiority over conventional rehabilitation programs for spinal cord injury and stroke. A recent study by the group around Grégoire Courtine showed that body-weight support systems that provide assistance only in the vertical direction disrupt the production of gait and balance, suggesting that current practices may even be detrimental for relearning to walk. For the past year, the Clinique Romande de Réadaptation (CRR) worked together with the G-Lab at EPFL and G-Therapeutics on a new robot platform specifically developed to provide adjustable trunk support along four independent degrees of freedom (LEAP). The investigators were able to draw on their long-term experience, which consists of different body weight support training systems for stroke and spinal cord injury. This knowledge, combined with the input of our therapists and physicians and the specific requirements for people with neurological/musculoskeletal disorders, has resulted in a design that can provide adjustable bodyweight support during over-ground locomotion, treadmill, stairs training, standing up and sitting down and for support during the training of activities of daily living. The scope of this study is to examine how well the robot can be used for rehabilitation therapy in everyday clinical practice. This includes, among other things, technical aspects such as the handling of the hardware, the adaptability of the robot to the patient, and the safety during operation (such as the fall prevention). Various patient-specific aspects will also be evaluated e.g. comfort, positioning, or motivation of the patient. This study also aims to evaluate the software with the various support modes, operating options, and the user interface of the LEAP.