Use of Joystick-operated Ride-on-toys to Improve Affected Arm Use and Function in Children With Hemiplegic Cerebral Palsy

Summary

This research is being done to explore if modified, commercially available, joystick-operated, ride-on-cars can be used to promote bilateral arm function in children with hemiplegic Cerebral Palsy (CP). Specifically, the study evaluates the effects of a 6-week, home-based, child-friendly, innovative program that uses modified, commercially available, joystick-operated, powered ride-on-toys to promote spontaneous affected arm use and function in children with hemiplegic CP.

Conditions

• Hemiplegic Cerebral Palsy

Interventions

DEVICE

Ride-on-toy navigation training

The training program will involve a set of activities where children will be encouraged to drive a joystick-operated ride-on-toy to navigate through their physical environment. The training will involve will involve progressively challenging multi-directional navigational games such as shape mazes, treasure hunts, relay races, and obstacle courses that will require children to use their affected arm skillfully to navigate through the courses.

BEHAVIORAL

Upper extremity functional training

In addition to the navigation practice, along the multi-directional courses, children will complete tasks at multiple stations that will involve both gross and fine motor activities. The goal of the training will be to use their arm for functional goal-directed tasks and games that will involve elements of reaching, grasping, in-hand manipulation, and release. We will use props such as balls, bean bags, cups, cones, and small toys to practice skills such as catching, throwing, picking up, pushing, pulling, opening, closing, etc.

Sponsors & Collaborators

• Eunice Kennedy Shriver National Institute of Child Health and Human Development (NICHD)

  collaborator NIH

• Virginia Tech (National Pediatric Rehabilitation Resource Center i.e. C-PROGRESS)

  collaborator UNKNOWN

• National Institute of Neurological Disorders and Stroke (NINDS)

  collaborator NIH

• National Institute for Biomedical Imaging and Bioengineering (NIBIB)

  collaborator NIH

• American Academy of Cerebral Palsy and Developmental Medicine

  collaborator OTHER

• University of Connecticut

  lead OTHER

Study Design

Allocation

NA

Purpose

TREATMENT

Masking

NONE

Model

SINGLE_GROUP

Eligibility

Min Age

3 Years

Max Age

8 Years

Sex

ALL

Healthy Volunteers

No

Timeline & Regulatory

Start

2022-11-15

Primary Completion

2024-05-11

Completion

2024-05-11

FDA Device

Yes

Countries

• United States

Study Locations