None listed
Conditions
Brief summary
Cerebral palsy refers to impairment of the developing brain's motor centers leading to motor control deficits and disruption in body position and movement. It is characterized by pathological reflexes, muscle tone disorders and absence of coordinated and voluntary movements, thus influencing the person's skills and ability to respond to his / her daily activities (Rosenbaum et al., 2007; Himmelmann et al., 2006). In recent years, virtual reality devices have often been used as an ancillary remedy for children and adolescents with cerebral palsy. This is probably due to the capabilities they provide (e.g difficulty adjustment, feedback) and the interactive experience children experience through the game (Levac et al., 2012; Pereira et al., 2014). However, it is noted that the efficiency of the most modern virtual reality devices, namely Head Mounted Displays (HMD), has not yet been studied. For this reason, the aim of this research is to evaluate the application of modern Head Mounted Displays (HMDs) to children and adolescents with cerebral palsy and to examine their impact on their daily functionality.
Interventions
The experimental group will participate in a virtual reality game program with a head mounted display(HMD) device (HTC Vive) while continuing the physiotherapy program of the rehabilitation center in Athens.
The duration of the physiotherapy program is 45 minutes,the frequency is twice per week and involves exercises for muscle strengthening,for better balance, functional activities like riding a bicycle, walking on a treadmill and climbing stairs and techniques-exercises from the neurodevelopme
The experimental group will participate in a virtual reality game program with a head mounted display(HMD) device (HTC Vive) while continuing the physiotherapy program of the rehabilitation center in Athens. The duration of the physiotherapy program is 45 minutes,the frequency is twice per week and involves exercises for muscle strengthening,for better balance, functional activities like riding a bicycle, walking on a treadmill and climbing stairs and techniques-exercises from the neurodevelopmental therapy. A physiotherapist is responsible for the administration of the therapy.He/She uses only simple equipment like pilates balls,layers and rolls. Children receive the physiotherapy program regardless they are involved in this study. The intervention with the HMD will be delivered once a week for 8 weeks.The duration of the intervention will be 45 minutes. Each child will participate alone. The two games, which children will play, will be selected based on children's preferences, through a list of several games, during their familiarization with the HMD device. In the first game,that called "Beat Saber", children hold the 2 controllers (in the game they see them as light sabers) and they have to cut blue and red cubes in the rythm of the music they have chosen, while they are trying to avoid obstacles like walls.In the second game called "Arcade Saga", children hold the 2 controllers (in the game they see them as shields) and they have to punch a ball (small,big,a dozen of balls or a very fast ball.That depends on moving cubes that change the condition of the ball if the ball hits them) and score 7 or 9 goals, depends on the level, to win the computer.They can also slow down the ball with yellow circle rays by targetting the ball and pressing the trigger button. The intervention will be delivered by the researcher, but the assessments with the functional tests at the beginning of the research,at the end 8 weeks later and 8 weeks after the end will be done by the physiotherapists of each child. The researcher will be present when children will play and will guide them. A diary will be used to monitor adherence to the intervention.In the diary the researcher will record the days when each child comes and the results from each game to increase each time their degree of difficulty and at the same time to know their progress.
Sponsors
National and Kapodistrian University of Athens
Study design
Allocation
Randomised controlled trial
Intervention model
Parallel
Primary purpose
Educational / counselling / training
Masking
Open (masking not used)
Eligibility
Sex/Gender
All
Age
10 Years to 13 Years
Healthy volunteers
No
Inclusion criteria
Children and adolescents diagnosed with cerebral palsy,ability to understand simple instructions, ability to walk with or without aids (Gross Motor Function Classification System-GMFCS E & R levels I-III),not participating in other organized extracurricular activities during the afternoon hours,absence of epilepsy and non-involvement in therapeutic approaches such as orthopedic surgery or injection of botulinum toxin A (Botox-A) into hypertonic muscles over the last 6 months.
Exclusion criteria
children with a more heavy form of cerebral palsy(GMFSC IV-V),children aged less than 10 years old and older than 13 years of age,children with cerebral palsy and lower mental ability,children that not living in Athens.
Outcome results
None listed