Trunk and Upper Extremities Program Effect in Decreasing Compensation Patterns in Unilateral Cerebral...
Cerebral Palsy InfantileChronic Pain1 moreThe goal of this clinical trial is to test the effectiveness of a trunk and upper extremities exercise program. The main questions it aims to answer are: Whether the program decreases compensation patterns in unilateral cerebral palsy children Whether the program decreases pain in unilateral cerebral palsy children Whether the program improves bimanual ability in unilateral cerebral palsy children Participants will undertake and 8-week program exercise at home If there is a comparison group: Researchers will compare with the control group to see if this program decreases compensation patterns.
Sarcopenia and Osteopenia in Individuals With Cerebral Palsy and Influences After Botulinum Neurotoxin...
Cerebral PalsyBotulinum neurotoxin type A (BoNT-A) intervention to control the hypertonia of muscles is one of the evidence-based managements for children with spastic cerebral palsy. However, BoNT-A injection in animal models to induce weakness had revealed some detrimental effects on muscular and skeletal systems. There are some objectives of this research. The first aim is to establish the baseline data of deficiencies in bone condition and muscle mass for individuals with cerebral palsy. To confirm the influences of intramuscular administration of Botox on muscular and bony health in this population is the other aim.
Non-Invasive Measurement of Pulmonary Dysfunction in Children With Cerebral Palsy
Cerebral PalsyThis proposal addresses pulmonary dysfunction in severe cerebral palsy by using a novel non-invasive respiratory sensor. The two aims of the project are to 1) provide a screening tool to detect respiratory distress and 2) Find a correlation between the degree of pulmonary dysfunction and scoliosis in children with cerebral palsy.
Functional Exercise Training in Cerebral Palsy: Follow Up
Cerebral PalsyThe goal of this cross-sectional study is to compare able-bodied peers to adolescents and young adults with cerebral palsy (CP) who have been regularly performing high-intensity functional training for almost two years. The main research question is: is structured, long-term exercise training able to compensate strength and cardiovascular deficits in adolescents with CP compared to able-bodied peers?
Exoskeleton-assisted Physiotherapy for Children With Mobility Impairments
Cerebral PalsyNon-ambulatory children with cerebral palsy (CP) and similar childhood-onset neuromotor conditions face many challenges to fulsome participation in everyday life. Recent initial phase research suggests that physiotherapy paired with use of robotic exoskeletons, such as the Trexo exoskeleton ("The Trexo"; Trexo Robotics, Canada) provides a novel opportunity for children with severe mobility challenges to experience active walking that is individualized to their movement potential (guiding and powering leg movements) and upright support needs. This before-and-after study will assess the first-time experience of 10 non-ambulatory children (ages 4-7) using the Trexo for 6 weeks of twice weekly physiotherapy sessions, and evaluate associated brain, muscle and functional outcomes including accomplishment of individualized goals. To study clinical utility, we will simultaneously capture physiotherapists' (PTs) and PT assistants' (PTAs) training/learning/user experiences with the Trexo's first time use within our center's out-patient program and on-site affiliated school. This project will contribute evidence-based knowledge to guide clinical decisions about introduction of the Trexo within pediatric rehabilitation settings (target demographic, potential goals, integration into physiotherapy) and be a foundation for a progressive program of multi-centre research. Overall, we hope that this research will lead to better opportunities for children's meaningful participation within the community, including family and peers.
Neuromusculoskeletal Modeling of Muscle Spasticity
Cerebral PalsyMusculoskeletal Deformity4 moreCerebral palsy (CP) is a movement and posture disorder caused by an injury to the developing brain, with a prevalence in Sweden of about 2/1000 live births. Children with CP have walking difficulties, and decreased muscle mass and muscle function as compared to typically developing (TD) children. The extent of disability in CP depends on the severity and timing of the primary cerebral lesion and can be classified with the gross motor function classification system (GMFCS E&R) that ranges from walking without limitations (I) to being transported in a wheelchair (V). Muscle function commonly deteriorates with age and contracture development is often clinically evident as early as at 4 years of age. In addition to being thinner and weaker, skeletal muscle in children with CP develop poor quality, i.e., increasingly higher amounts of fat and connective tissue at the expense of functional, contractile proteins. How long-term standard treatments for children with spastic CP including, training and orthotics use, with botulinum toxin (BoNT-A) treatment as an adjunct, affects muscle on functional, structural, and microscopic level in CP has not yet been published. Therefore, we will investigate the muscle function as well as functional mobility, structure, and spasticity. We will conduct functional mobility tests. Muscle strength will be measured with a rig-fixed dynamometer, and muscle structure will be measured with magnetic resonance imaging. The spasticity will be instrumentally assessed by the NeuroflexorTM, a machine measuring resistance in a muscle when a pedal is passively moving the participants foot at two different speeds. We will follow participants, for 1 year, with 4 measurements during this period. In order to better treat these children, we need to better understand the complex, interrelated interactions of musculoskeletal properties and function in children with CP. Our hypothesis is that muscle structure and function is affected by standard clinical treatments sessions including routine botulinum toxin treatment. Analyzing the effect of standard care may help planning of more effective clinical treatments in the future.
Implementation of Early Detection and Early Intervention Service Delivery in Infants at Risk for...
Cerebral PalsyThe BORNTOGETTHERE consists of improving health programs for early detection and surveillance of Cerebral Palsy (CP) by implementing the first International Clinical Practice Guidelines (Novak et al, 2017) in multiple sites in Europe (Italy, Denmark, Netherlands), in low- and middle-income countries (Georgia, Sri Lanka) and hard to reach populations (Remote Queensland, QLD and Western Australia, WA). In addition, exploiting early detection of infants at very high risk of CP, the investigators will implement best-evidence knowledge on early intervention in CP, thereby improving the outcomes of the infants and of their caregivers.
Safety of Cultured Autologous Adult Adipose Derived Mesenchymal Stem Cell Intravenous Infusion for...
Cerebral PalsyThis trial will study the safety and efficacy of intravenous infusion of cultured autologous adult adipose derived mesenchymal stem cells for the treatment of Cerebral Palsy
Functional Strength Training and Virtual Reality in Children With CP
Cerebral PalsyVirtual reality (VR) has shown to be effective to improve arm function in children with cerebral palsy (CP). Recently, functional strength training (FST) starts to show to improve arm function in patients with stroke but has not been extensively explored in children with CP. This pilot study is to examine the effect of FST and VR on improving arm function in children with CP as well as the neuroplasticity changes in the brain related to the level of improvement. Ten children with spastic CP will be recruited to participate in this pilot study. Children will be randomized to receive either VR of FST for 60 minutes per session x 3 sessions per week x 6 weeks at their home. All children will be evaluated prior to and immediately after the intervention at their home for clinical tests and at CABI for the MRI measures. Brain imaging data and clinical outcome measures including reaching kinematics, standardized fine motor assessment tool (Peabody Developmental Motor Scale-2nd edition), and daily use of affected hand (using Revised Pediatric Motor Activity Log) will be evaluated. A physical therapist who is blinded to the status will conduct the assessment. The investigators anticipate children in both groups will improve their arm function after intervention; however, children in the VR group will have a better improvement as compared with children in the FST group.
Clinical Applications of High-Frequency Oscillations
HealthyEpilepsy5 moreThe objective of this study is to use high-frequency brain signals (HFBS) to localize functional brain areas and to characterize HFBS epilepsy, migraine and other brain disorders. We hope to build the world's first high-frequency MEG/MEG/ECoG/SEEG database for the developing brain. HFBS include high-gamma activation/oscillations, high-frequency oscillations (HFOs), ripples, fast ripples, and very high frequency oscillations (VHFOs) in the brain. To reach the goals, we have developed several new MEG/EEG methods: (1) accumulated spectrogram; (2) accumulated source imaging; (3)frequency encoded source imaging; (4) multi-frequency analysis; (5)artificial intelligence detection of HFOs; (6) Neural network analysis (Graph Theory); and (7) others (e.g. ICA, virtual sensors).