Robot-Assisted Mirror Therapy in the Rehabilitation of Hemiparetic Cerebral Palsy

Summary

The goal of this clinical trial is to learn whether robot-assisted mirror therapy improves upper extremity function in children with spastic hemiparetic cerebral palsy. The study will also compare the effects of robot-assisted mirror therapy with those of conventional mirror therapy.

The main questions this study aims to answer are:

* Does robot-assisted mirror therapy improve spasticity, grip strength, selective motor control, hand skills, bimanual performance, participation in activities of daily living, and quality of life?
* Does robot-assisted mirror therapy improve upper extremity function more than conventional mirror therapy?

Researchers will compare robot-assisted mirror therapy combined with neurodevelopmental treatment with conventional mirror therapy combined with neurodevelopmental treatment.

Participants will:

* Receive individualized neurodevelopmental treatment for 6 weeks.
* Complete a 2-week interval after neurodevelopmental treatment.
* Be randomly assigned to either the robot-assisted mirror therapy group or the conventional mirror therapy group.
* Receive robot-assisted mirror therapy or conventional mirror therapy twice a week for 6 weeks.
* Complete assessments before neurodevelopmental treatment, after neurodevelopmental treatment, before the study intervention, and after the intervention.

Researchers will evaluate upper extremity function, spasticity, grip strength, selective motor control, hand skills, bimanual performance, participation in activities of daily living, and quality of life using standardized clinical assessment tools.

Conditions

• Cerebral Palsy (CP)
• Hemiparetic Cerebral Palsy

Interventions

DEVICE

Robot-Assisted Mirror Therapy

Participants will receive robot-assisted mirror therapy in addition to neurodevelopmental treatment. The unaffected hand will perform movements in front of a mirror, while the affected hand will be positioned behind it inside a pneumatic robotic glove (FosilTech, Turkey). The glove operates through air compression and vacuum. For each movement, the air valves controlling the fingers will be set open or closed. Open valves permit airflow and passive finger movement, whereas closed valves restrict airflow and stop selected fingers. The valve configuration will be adjusted to create a hand position symmetrical to that of the unaffected hand. The motor will be operated via remote control in synchrony and coordination with the unaffected-hand movements, producing corresponding passive movements of the affected hand and providing mirrored visual feedback and bilateral movement training. Robot-assisted mirror therapy will be administered for 30 minutes per session, twice weekly for 6 weeks.

BEHAVIORAL

Mirror Therapy

Participants will receive conventional mirror therapy in addition to neurodevelopmental treatment. A mirror is positioned in the participant's midsagittal plane to create the visual illusion that the affected upper extremity is moving normally while performing bilateral upper extremity exercises. Mirror therapy will be administered for 30 minutes per session, twice weekly for 6 weeks.

BEHAVIORAL

Neurodevelopmental Treatment

Participants will receive a neurodevelopmental treatment (NDT) program administered by a physiotherapist. The intervention will focus on facilitating normal movement patterns, postural control, balance, and upper extremity function through task-oriented therapeutic activities. NDT will be administered for 40 minutes per session, twice weekly for 6 weeks.

Sponsors & Collaborators

• Medipol University

  lead OTHER

Study Design

Allocation

RANDOMIZED

Purpose

TREATMENT

Masking

NONE

Model

PARALLEL

Eligibility

Min Age

6 Years

Max Age

17 Years

Sex

ALL

Healthy Volunteers

No

Timeline & Regulatory

Start

2025-03-25

Primary Completion

2026-09-30

Completion

2026-09-30

Countries

• Turkey (Türkiye)

Study Locations