Cerebral Palsy, Traumatic Brain Injury
Conditions
Keywords
postural control, Targeted Training, cerebral palsy, trunk segments
Brief summary
If a child with cerebral palsy does not develop independent sitting balance by 4 years of age, their prognosis for walking is very poor. Surprisingly little is known about how to facilitate head control or upright sitting balance and functional mobility in the child who is not developing these skills. This is one of the first studies that will examine intermediate stages in the development of the postural control system in children with neurologic deficits. Clinical researchers at The Movement Centre in Oswestry, England have developed a method called Targeted Training in which trunk control is trained in children segment by segment using a specific training device. This study aims to examine kinematic and electromyographic changes in a case series of children who undergo a 6-month Targeted Training intervention.
Interventions
DEVICETargeted Training
Custom training devices were imported from The Movement Centre for research purposes. The typical course of treatment involves loaning the customized equipment to each family for use in their home or in their child's educational setting. Training occurs once daily usually for 30-45 minutes. This is done 5 or 6 days per week. Training programs typically involve playing with balls or balloons or video games that motivate the child to hold the head erect and to wave the arms and hands and move the upper body.
Sponsors
University of Oregon
Study design
Allocation
NA
Intervention model
SINGLE_GROUP
Primary purpose
TREATMENT
Masking
NONE
Masking description
Gross Motor Function Measure Outcome was masked for temporal order and video scored by reviewers who were not involved in data collections or intervention.
Eligibility
Sex/Gender
ALL
Age
4 Years to 17 Years
Healthy volunteers
No
Inclusion criteria
* neurologic diagnosis that results in a deficit in trunk control (i.e. cerebral palsy, traumatic brain injury) * age 4-17 years * Gross Motor Function Classification System (GMFCS) level III, IV or V for children with cerebral palsy
Exclusion criteria
* spinal fixation * fixed scoliosis * uncontrolled seizures
Design outcomes
Primary
| Measure | Time frame | Description |
|---|---|---|
| Change in Gross Motor Function Measure | 6 months and followup post training 12 months | — |
| Probe data, balance | baseline, intervention, 2 months post intervention | timed balance task |
Secondary
| Measure | Time frame | Description |
|---|---|---|
| Change in head stability | 6 months, 1,3, and 12 months post intervention | Change in alignment and stability of head postural sway during quiet sitting |
| Change in muscle activation strategy during quiet sitting with different levels of external support. | 6 months, 1 and 3 months post intervention | — |
| Change in Pediatric Evaluation of Disability Inventory (PEDI) | 6 months and 1,3, 12 months post intervention | — |
| Qualitative Parent, Teacher report | during intervention and post intervention | — |
Outcome results
None listed