Active clinical trials for "Cerebral Palsy"

This research study will combine non-invasive spinal stimulation with mobility devices to examine the acute impact of the individual and combined effects of these innovative techniques on mobility in children with cerebral palsy.

Plyometric training includes muscle contraction that moves rapidly from the eccentric to the concentric phase of movement while using proper biomechanics. It is an effective neuromuscular stimulus that can improve motor functions of children with cerebral palsy. In plyometric training, muscles exert maximum force in short intervals of time, with the goal of increasing power. Commercially available video games have been used for a wide range of clinical populations with generally positive clinical outcomes. They have been shown to be active enough to provide an increase in energy expenditure and physical activity in children with cerebral palsy. Furthermore, an early case study showed improvements in visual-perceptual processing, balance, and mobility in a child with cerebral palsy.

The activity status of children with cerebral palsy between the ages of 3 and 18 who participated in the physiotherapy program in special education institutions throughout the province of Gaziantep was evaluated. The effect of the family education to be given on the activity status of the children and the psychosocial status of the families was investigated. The individuals included in the study were divided into two groups as patient and control. In the beginning, the scales used to determine the activity status and the scales to determine the depression status of their families were applied in order to determine the status of both groups. Children with cerebral palsy in the patient group received treatment in a special education and rehabilitation center two days a week for 8 weeks. Individuals in the control group were followed up with a home program. After 8 weeks of treatment, the same tests were repeated and it was examined whether the family education provided made a difference in children with cerebral palsy and their parents.

The aim of the 6-month randomized controlled trial, with 6-month no treatment follow-up, is to examine the effects of low-magnitude vibration on muscle, physical activity, and balance in children with spastic cerebral palsy.

The study aims to compare the effectiveness of classical massage, connective tissue massage, and reflexology in children with cerebral palsy.

To assess the impact of a 12-week virtual seated physical intervention on cardiovascular health and wellness in people with chronic neurological impairments (CNI).

Studying in two randomized controlled trials (RCT) the changes induced by early HABIT-ILE in functional, neuroplastic and biomechanical assessment in children with unilateral and bilateral CP.

Youth with physical disabilities experience greater limitations to participation in community- based activities than do their average-developing peers, which can result in poor health outcomes. Emerging treatment approaches aimed at improving activity and participation have shifted from focusing only on impaired body functions towards the performance of functionally meaningful activities within the youth's natural environment. It is unclear; however, whether targeting intervention at the activity/participation level can simultaneously result in improvement of personal functional skills (e.g., reaching) and body functions (e.g., range of motion, balance) - components known to worsen with age and, thus, important to address and maintain within the rehabilitation process. Our team has partnered with key community-based stakeholders including youth, clinicians and policy-makers, and together we plan to examine whether engaging in an 8-week self-chosen community-based activity (e.g., sledge hockey, boccia) can lead to a significant improvement in three key body functions: motor, cognitive and affective. Thirty youth with physical disabilities will take part in the study and engage in an activity program of their 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/program. 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 one single intervention. Such treatment approaches may also reduce the burden on the healthcare system as well as on the youth and families. Moreover, findings can advance our understanding of methods for testing complex and unique 'real-life' individual-based interventions that are highly relevant to practice.

Hemiplegia occurs when the function of motor areas in the brain become impaired, predominantly unilaterally, during perinatal development. Children with hemiplegia show impairments in motor control of the affected side of the body. Impairments in use of the upper extremity are common, and lead to functional disability throughout the lifespan of a person with hemiplegia. Upper extremity impairments can severely affect a person's ability to carry out activities of daily living. The goal of this study at Blythedale Children's Hospital is to test the efficacy of transcranial direct current stimulation (tDCS) and robotic upper extremity therapy in improving upper extremity function in children with unilateral cerebral palsy. This study will test the hypothesis that physical rehabilitation, provided by repetitive arm movements guided by a robot, will improve upper extremity function in children with hemiplegia, and that this improvement can be enhanced by transcranial direct current stimulation of motor cortex immediately before robotic training.

Infants born very preterm (≤28 weeks of gestation) are at high risk of having developmental disabilities including cerebral palsy, coordination impairments, attention deficit and learning disabilities. Impairment including reduced postural control, movement variability, visual motor skills, and motor learning are common during the first months of life and are associated with later developmental disabilities. However, infant born very preterm rarely receive evidence based therapeutic intervention in the first months of life when basic science and animal intervention studies suggest the greatest efficacy. Barriers to enrollment in services delay the onset of services and delivery models rarely support targeted preventative intervention or enhanced parent engagement during in the transition from the neonatal intensive care unit (NICU) to home. Targeted intervention supporting postural control and motor learning in the NICU have resulted in short term motor gains. Interventions that enhance parent's ability to read their infant's cues and provide engagement opportunities improve maternal mental health and infant social and cognitive outcomes in the short-term. The purpose of this randomized clinical trial is to evaluate the efficacy of an intervention that combines evidence based motor intervention and parent engagement to enhance the parent's ability to provide daily motor and cognitive opportunities resulting in improved motor and cognitive outcomes. Supporting Play Exploration and Development Intervention (SPEEDI) uses guided participation to empower parents in reading infant's behavioral cues, identifying ideal times for interaction, and enriching the environment and learning opportunities. Parents participate in 5 session in 3 weeks while learning principles of engagement, readiness for interaction, and to provide early motor and cognitive learning opportunities. Parents provide 20 minutes of motor and cognitive play based enrichment daily for 12 weeks with bi-weekly physical therapist support. The parent is empowered to determine the infant's current abilities and advance the activities to the "Just Right Challenge" throughout the 12 weeks, likely continuing after the intervention. The efficacy of SPEEDI will be assessed during delivery at 2 time point; the transition from the NICU to home (around the infant's due date) and at 3-4 months of adjusted age (after the infants due date). Ninety infants will be randomly assigned to a Usual Care group, SPEEDI_Early, or SPEEDI_Later group. Group differences will be assessed in developmental outcomes on the motor and cognitive scales of the Bayley Scales for Infant and Toddler Development as well as the Early Problem Solving Indicator and Gross Motor Function Measure at the end of each intervention period, 12 and 24 months of age.