Cerebral Palsy Clinical Trials

The purpose of this study is to explore the feasibility, fidelity and acceptability of an aquatic therapy assessment and intervention for children ages 3-9 with neuromotor deficits such as cerebral palsy. The intervention takes place in a warm water therapy pool, twice a week for ten weeks and targets swim safety skills, upper extremity function and self care participation and performance. Read Less

The study will describe the natural history of cerebral palsy (CP) as children develop over the first 2 years of life. Read Less

The intervention in this study, Let's Move, is a motor intervention for infants at risk for cerebral palsy. We will test the feasibility and acceptability of the intervention as well as preliminary effectiveness. Read Less

The primary objective of this study is to evaluate the efficacy of valbenazine versus placebo on improving chorea in pediatric and adult participants who have dyskinesia due to cerebral palsy (DCP) with choreiform movements. Read Less

Background: People with cerebral palsy, spina bifida, muscular dystrophy, or spinal cord injury often have muscle weakness and problems controlling how their legs move. This can affect how they walk. The NIH has designed a robotic device (exoskeleton) that can be worn on the legs while walking. The wearable robot offers a new form of gait training. Objective: To learn whether a robotic device worn on the legs can improve walking ability in those with a gait disorder. Eligibility: People aged 3 to 17 years with a gait disorder involving the knee joint. Design: Participants will be screened. They will have a physical exam. Their walking ability will be tested. Participants will have markers taped on their body; they will walk while cameras record their movements. They will undergo other tests of their motor function and muscle strength. The study will be split into three 12-week phases. During 1 phase, participants will continue with their standard therapy. During another phase, participants will work with the exoskeleton in a lab setting. Their legs will be scanned to create an exoskeleton with a customized fit. The exoskeleton operates in different modes: in exercise mode, it applies force that makes it difficult to take steps; in assistance mode, it applies force meant to aid walking; in combination mode, it alternates between these two approaches. During the third phase, participants may take the exoskeleton home. They will walk in the device at least 1 hour per day, 5 days per week, for 12 weeks. Participants walking ability will be retested after each phase.... Read Less

Background: - Cerebral palsy (CP) is the most common motor disorder in children. CP often causes crouch gait, an abnormal way of walking. Knee crouch has many causes, so no single device or approach works best for everybody. This study s adjustable brace provides many types of walking assistance. Researchers will evaluate brace options to find the best solution for each participant, and whether one solution works best for the group. Objective: - To evaluate a new brace to improve crouch gait in children with CP. Eligibility: Children 5 17 years old with CP. Healthy volunteers 5 17 years old. Design: All participants will be screened with medical history and physical exam. Healthy volunteers will have 1 visit. They will do motion analysis, EMG, and EEG described below. Participants with CP will have 6 visits. Visit 1: <TAB>1. Motion analysis: Balls will be taped to participants skin. This helps cameras follow their movement. <TAB>2. EMG: Metal discs will be taped to participants skin. They measure electrical muscle activity. <TAB>3. Participants knee movement will be tested. <TAB>4. Participants will walk 50 meters. <TAB>5. Participants legs will be cast to make custom braces. Visit 2: Participants will wear their new braces and have them adjusted. Steps 1 3 will be repeated. EEG: Small metal discs will be placed on the participants scalp. They record brain waves. Participants will have electrical stimulation of their knees and practice extending them. Participants will take several walks with the braces in different settings. Visits 3 5: participants will repeat the walking and some other steps from visit 2. Visit 6 will repeat visit 2. Read Less

The purpose of this study is to examine the underlying mechanisms that contribute to high energy costs for people with cerebral palsy (CP) as they walk. The investigators will characterize the cost landscape of children with CP, quantifying the magnitude of cost (net nondimensional oxygen consumption) associated with walking and common sub-tasks of walking, such as supporting and stabilizing the body. Read Less

Background: New ways to study the brain as people move include near-infrared spectroscopy (NIRS) and electroencephalography (EEG). NIRS uses laser light shone through the scalp to look at blood flow in the brain which increases with movement. EEG records electrical activity in the brain. Little is known about brain activity while children learn new motor skills. Researchers want to learn more about how small children with and without cerebral palsy use their brain to control their body. This may help them find new ways to help children move better. Objectives: To learn more about how infants and young children with and without cerebral palsy use their brain to move their arms and legs. Eligibility: Children ages 3 months - 5 years with and without cerebral palsy Design: Participants will be screened with: Physical exam Questions for the parents about the child s health Participants will have at least 1 study session. Some may have up to 34 (all optional). In the sessions, participants will do motor tasks along with some or all of the following: Light sensors placed on the scalp, held there with a cap or Velcro straps. Small metal disks placed on the scalp with a cap or straps, with gel between them. Motion capture recording. Balls attached to the arms and legs by stickers, straps, or a garment are tracked by infrared and video cameras. Motor tasks include reaching, clapping, kicking, and standing. Participants may be placed in a toy or device that uses a motor to move their limbs. Participants head size, hair, and skin will be assessed. Parents will answer questions about their child s typical movements. ... Read Less

Pain management in pediatric patients presents a difficult challenge. Unlike adults, pediatric patients often cannot communicate their pain management needs clearly. This is especially true in patients with cerebral palsy (CP), who often have concomitant developmental delay, intellectual disability and verbal limitations. Current literature indicates pain as a common experience for children with CP but has been understudied in this population. Moreover, inadequate post-operative pain control can result in negative physiologic and psychological complications and lead to poor surgical outcomes. Currently, perioperative pain management following orthopaedic procedures in pediatric patients follows traditional protocols that rely on the administration of opioid medications despite their known adverse side effects including nausea, vomiting, itching, constipation, urinary retention, confusion, and respiratory depression. Epidural anesthesia is a key modality in traditional pain management for pediatric patients with CP given its proven efficacy in decreasing pain and managing spasticity. Yet, administering epidural anesthesia in this patient population poses several risks including damage to preexisting intrathecal baclofen pumps, iatrogenic infection, and technically demanding insertion given high rates of concomitant neuromuscular scoliosis. Alternatively, multimodal analgesic injections theoretically offer an efficacious adjunct to traditional pain management protocols with a lower risk profile. Preliminary data from our study group's pilot randomized control trial comparing the safety and efficacy of a multimodal surgical site injection to placebo showed decreased pain scores and narcotic consumption postoperatively in this patient population. Based on these promising results, the objective of this randomized control trial is to evaluate the efficacy of a multimodal surgical site injection compared to epidural anesthesia for postoperative pain control following operative management of hip dysplasia in pediatric patients with CP. Read Less

The goal of this interventional study is to learn about the biomechanical factors underlying the beneficial changes in children with cerebral palsy after using individually-adapted stand-on ride-on power mobility devices (PMD). The main questions we aim to answer are: How does the use of stand-on PMDs affect static balance in children with cerebral palsy? How does the use of stand-on PMDs affect dynamic balance and mobility function in children with cerebral palsy? Children ages 4-6 years old with cerebral palsy (GMFCS levels II and III) will: Use individually-adapted stand-on PMDs for three months. Undergo tests to measure static balance, dynamic balance, and mobility function before and after the intervention. Receive a full biomechanical assessment (kinematics, kinetics, muscle activity, gait spatiotemporal characteristics). Researchers will compare pre-intervention and post-intervention measurements to quantify improvements in balance, muscle activation, and mobility. Read Less

Cerebral palsy (CP) is the most common physical disability in early childhood causing serious motor and sensory impairments. Effective interventions for the recovery of motor functions are of profound significance to children with CP, their families, caregivers, and health professionals. Robot-assisted rehabilitation represents a frontier with potential to improve motor functions and induce brain reorganization in children with CP. Read Less

Children with cerebral palsy (CP), Gross Motor Functional Classification Scale (GMFCS) I-II will be recruited to participate in a home based physical activity intervention for 12 weeks. Demographic data will be collected, and validated surveys assessing baseline activity level and quality of life will be administered. Participants will have an exercise program assigned and will be given a logbook to record their exercise adherence. They will be randomized to one of the two arms: Augment Reality (AR) app or control group. The AR app group will have exercises administered through the AR app. The Control group will do an at-home program using handouts. At the end of the program, participants will complete final surveys and activity tests. The control group will have access to the AR component after the 12 week period. Read Less