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Efficacy of the START-Play Program for Infants With Neuromotor Disorders

Efficacy of the START-Play Program for Infants With Neuromotor Disorders

Status
Completed
Phases
NA
Study type
Interventional
Source
ClinicalTrials.gov
Registry ID
NCT02593825
Acronym
START-Play
Enrollment
134
Registered
2015-11-02
Start date
2016-01-31
Completion date
2022-06-12
Last updated
2024-03-18

For informational purposes only — not medical advice. Sourced from public registries and may not reflect the latest updates. Terms

Conditions

Cerebral Palsy, Developmental Delay, Infant Development

Brief summary

The purpose of this project is to evaluate the efficacy of Sitting Together And Reaching To Play (START-Play), an intervention designed to target sitting, reaching, and motor-based problem solving to improve development and readiness to learn in infants with motor delays or dysfunction. There is limited research examining the efficacy of early physical intervention on infants with neuromotor dysfunction. In addition, most early motor interventions have not been directly linked to learning, despite the research demonstrating an association between motor activity and cognitive skills. START-Play specifically targets motor skills that lead to greater physical exploration, which has been associated with improved problem solving and global development. A randomized controlled trial of START-Play will be conducted across four states to investigate the impact of the intervention on changes over time in sitting and reaching, subsequent changes in global cognitive development, and the mediating influences of motor skill changes and problem solving. The research team will conduct a randomized controlled trial to evaluate the impact of START-Play on motor development, motor problem solving, global development including cognitive problem solving of infants with neuromotor delay and dysfunction. Infants will experience either the intervention or services as usual for 3 months, with following testing at three time points up until 9 months post intervention. The researchers will determine whether the intervention leads to improved sitting and reaching, which leads to improved motor-based problem solving, which leads to improved global development and problem solving.

Detailed description

Setting: The research will take place in the homes of infants and their families in Pennsylvania, Delaware, Washington, and Virginia. Sample: There will be approximately 140 infants with neuromotor disorders completing participation in this study, beginning at the age the age of 7 to 16 months, as well as their families and interventionists. Infants will have gross motor delays but be able to sit propped up for at least 3 seconds when they are recruited for participation. Intervention: Sitting Together And Reaching To Play (START-Play) is an intervention for infants with motor dysfunction or delay in which physical therapists visit the child's home to target work on siting, reaching, and problem solving. The therapist visits the home twice weekly for 3 months. During these visits, therapists and families work together to provide intensive, individualized, daily activities to advance reaching and sitting through small increments of challenge and support for these skills, which then become the building blocks for motor-based problem solving. More specifically, the intervention focuses on self-initiated, goal-directed movements to build orientation and attention to objects, while learning basic relationships of cause and effect. Infants and families in the intervention group will receive this intervention in addition to their usual early intervention services. Research Design and Methods: This study will use a randomized controlled trial in which infants and their families are randomly assigned to the intervention group (START-Play in addition to usual services) or control group (usual early intervention services), stratified by severity of neuromotor disorder. There will be six measurement sessions during the 12-week intervention period, following by assessments during 1-, 3-, and 9-month follow-up visits. The study aims to determine the efficacy of the intervention on sitting and reaching (proximal outcomes) and motor-based problem solving skills (longer-term proximal outcome), which is hypothesized to serve as mediators to the more distal outcomes of global cognitive development and readiness to learn. The investigators will also explore fidelity of implementation to identify conditions that support fidelity and outcomes, as well as identify other moderating factors related to the child (severity of disorder, health, age, cognitive skill at entry), family (socioeconomic status, home environment), or services (fidelity of implementation, other services provided to child) to explore change over time. Control Condition: Infants and their families in the control condition will continue to receive their regular Part C early intervention services. Key Measures: Primary outcome measures in the study include the Gross Motor Function Measure and an observational measure of toy contacts for sitting and reaching, and the Individual and Growth Development Indicators (Early Problem Solving Indicator) and Bayley Scales of Infant and Toddler Development -Third Edition for problem solving and global development. Secondary measures include additional measures of postural control and reaching, child and family characteristics, and fidelity of implementation (logs and checklist). Data Analytic Strategy: The investigators will use linear mixed modeling (LMM) to determine the efficacy of the intervention on child outcomes. Parallel process growth modeling within a structural equation modeling framework will be used to examine whether improvements in sitting and reaching are mediators leading to improvements in problem solving, which is then a mediator leading to long-term global cognitive development. LMM will also be used to examine moderating variables, as well as secondary motor outcomes.

Interventions

BEHAVIORALSTART-Play intervention

The START-Play group is a perceptual-motor approach, which uses self-initiated goal-directed movements to bolster orienting and attending to objects, while understanding basic relationships of cause and effect through manipulation and focused attention. Generally, activities focus on helping the child attend to significant environmental information, which can be correlated to forces useful for controlling posture and movement. Unlike passive movement therapy, the investigator's approach encourages activity and learning to solve problems linked by movement and manipulation of objects, which then scaffold cognitive skill.

May include active or passive movement, parent training, positioning, equipment modification, training other team members, functional skill training

Sponsors

University of Delaware
CollaboratorOTHER
Virginia Commonwealth University
CollaboratorOTHER
University of Washington
CollaboratorOTHER
University of Nebraska Lincoln
CollaboratorOTHER
Duquesne University
Lead SponsorOTHER

Study design

Allocation
RANDOMIZED
Intervention model
PARALLEL
Primary purpose
TREATMENT
Masking
SINGLE (Outcomes Assessor)

Eligibility

Sex/Gender
ALL
Age
7 Months to 16 Months
Healthy volunteers
No

Inclusion criteria

* • Infants enter study between 7-16 months of age, when they are able to prop sit for 3 seconds and maintain their head at least to the level of neutral alignment with their trunk. * Gross motor delay as reflected in the Bayley III motor subtest \>1.0 Standard Deviation below the mean. * Neuromotor disorder such as cerebral palsy (CP), or at risk for CP because of extreme prematurity or brain damage that occurred at or around birth, or infants with motor delay of an unspecified origin (no clear diagnosis, but delay as above) -• Minimal movement requirements/Indicators of readiness for change: Sits with support of arms for 3 seconds after being placed. Exhibits at least some spontaneous movement of arms.

Exclusion criteria

* • Medical complications that severely limit participation in assessments and intervention such as severe visual and congenital/genetic anomalies, uncontrolled seizure disorder. * Diagnosis other than an unchanging neuromotor disorder (examples: autism, Down syndrome, spinal cord injury, acquired head injury, muscle disorder). * A child will be excluded if the parents report any of following: 1) if the child has a disability of a progressive nature such as muscular dystrophy; 2) if the child's family plans to move out of the local area within one year from the start of the study; 3) if the child has major surgery planned that might affect physical performance.

Design outcomes

Primary

MeasureTime frameDescription
Bayley Scales of Infant Development IIIBaseline, at end of 3 month intervention, and at 12 months post-baselineBayley Scales of Infant Development III, cognitive scale; raw scores used to reflect change over time and absolute growth (rather than standard scores) Range: Minimum =20 points; Maximum=60 Higher score = better outcome

Secondary

MeasureTime frameDescription
Change in Frequency (Number) of Toy ContactsBaseline, at end of 3 month intervention, and at 12 months after baselinebehavioral coding of play and hand use, coded from videotape; Coding software used to time contacts during standard reaching task during 5 minute reaching at shoulder level and below.
Change in Duration (Time) of Toy ContactsBaseline, at end of 3 month intervention, and at 12 months after baselinecoding number seconds of videotaped hand use during play; timing coded in a video coding software for behavioral analysis Higher score=better
Change in Gross Motor Function Measure, Sitting SubscaleBaseline, at end of 3 month intervention, and at 12 months after baselineGross motor skills in the sitting subsection of the Gross Motor Function Measure (GMFM) Minimum value=4 Maximum value=60 Higher scores=better outcome
Change in Modified Parent Child Interaction-Dyadic Mini CodeBaseline, at end of 3 month intervention, and at 6 and 12 months after baselinePlay and interaction of parent and child, coding of behavior frequency and type of interaction; coded as a total percentage of time the parent provided cognitive opportunities
Change in Reaching (Change in Looking and Hand Contact of Toy)Baseline, at end of 3 month intervention, and at 12 months after baselineLooking while contacting toy, frequency of either unimanual or bimanual contact while looking at toy
Change in Early Problem Solving Indicator (EPSI)Baseline, at end of 3 month intervention, and at 6 and 12 months after baselineInfant growth and development indicator of problem solving skills, adapted for children with motor deficits Modified to Assessment of Problem-Solving in Play (APSP) Minimum=30 Maximum=120 Higher=better outcome

Other

MeasureTime frameDescription
Change in Postural Measure of Trunk AngleChange over 3 monthsAngle of forward trunk lean in sitting position

Countries

United States

Participant flow

Participants by arm

ArmCount
START-Play
Received the START-Play intervention in addition to their usual early intervention and care
57
Business-as-Usual
Received only the usual early intervention and services required due to delays
55
Total112

Withdrawals & dropouts

PeriodReasonFG000FG001
InterventionLost to Follow-up1012

Baseline characteristics

CharacteristicSTART-PlayBusiness-as-UsualTotal
Age, Customized
Months of age (adjusted for prematurity)
10.93 Months
STANDARD_DEVIATION 2.63
10.67 Months
STANDARD_DEVIATION 2.57
10.8 Months
STANDARD_DEVIATION 2.59
Bayley Scales of Infant Development III, Cognitive29.25 units on a scale
STANDARD_DEVIATION 7.14
28.4 units on a scale
STANDARD_DEVIATION 6.45
28.83 units on a scale
STANDARD_DEVIATION 6.8
Race/Ethnicity, Customized
Black
5 Participants6 Participants11 Participants
Race/Ethnicity, Customized
Other
10 Participants12 Participants22 Participants
Race/Ethnicity, Customized
White
42 Participants37 Participants79 Participants
Sex: Female, Male
Female
22 Participants26 Participants48 Participants
Sex: Female, Male
Male
35 Participants29 Participants64 Participants

Adverse events

Event typeEG000
affected / at risk
EG001
affected / at risk
deaths
Total, all-cause mortality
0 / 570 / 55
other
Total, other adverse events
0 / 570 / 55
serious
Total, serious adverse events
0 / 570 / 55

Outcome results

Primary

Bayley Scales of Infant Development III

Bayley Scales of Infant Development III, cognitive scale; raw scores used to reflect change over time and absolute growth (rather than standard scores) Range: Minimum =20 points; Maximum=60 Higher score = better outcome

Time frame: Baseline, at end of 3 month intervention, and at 12 months post-baseline

Population: All assessments were video recorded and stored for later scoring by researchers masked to group assignment.

ArmMeasureGroupValue (MEAN)Dispersion
START-Play InterventionBayley Scales of Infant Development IIIFull group, 3 mo results35.9 score on a scaleStandard Deviation 7.2
START-Play InterventionBayley Scales of Infant Development IIISeverely delayed, 3 mo results31.7 score on a scaleStandard Deviation 7.7
START-Play InterventionBayley Scales of Infant Development IIIMildly delayed, 3 mo39.3 score on a scaleStandard Deviation 4.6
START-Play InterventionBayley Scales of Infant Development IIIFull group, 12 mo results44.63 score on a scaleStandard Deviation 12.23
START-Play InterventionBayley Scales of Infant Development IIIseverly delayed, 12 month36.6 score on a scaleStandard Deviation 10.94
START-Play InterventionBayley Scales of Infant Development IIImildly delayed, 12 mo52 score on a scaleStandard Deviation 8.06
Business as UsualBayley Scales of Infant Development IIIseverly delayed, 12 month35.11 score on a scaleStandard Deviation 10.37
Business as UsualBayley Scales of Infant Development IIIFull group, 3 mo results33.6 score on a scaleStandard Deviation 7.1
Business as UsualBayley Scales of Infant Development IIIFull group, 12 mo results43.28 score on a scaleStandard Deviation 12.05
Business as UsualBayley Scales of Infant Development IIISeverely delayed, 3 mo results29.4 score on a scaleStandard Deviation 6.4
Business as UsualBayley Scales of Infant Development IIImildly delayed, 12 mo49.95 score on a scaleStandard Deviation 8.87
Business as UsualBayley Scales of Infant Development IIIMildly delayed, 3 mo37.3 score on a scaleStandard Deviation 5.4
Comparison: Also examined these groups in sub-groups of mildly delayed (\<2.5 Standard Deviations below the mean on motor Bayley score at baseline) and significantly motor delayed (\>2.5 Standard Deviations below the mean on motor Bayley score at baseline)p-value: <0.05Mixed Models Analysis
Secondary

Change in Duration (Time) of Toy Contacts

coding number seconds of videotaped hand use during play; timing coded in a video coding software for behavioral analysis Higher score=better

Time frame: Baseline, at end of 3 month intervention, and at 12 months after baseline

ArmMeasureGroupValue (MEAN)Dispersion
START-Play InterventionChange in Duration (Time) of Toy ContactsBaseline38.20 secondsStandard Deviation 30.88
START-Play InterventionChange in Duration (Time) of Toy Contacts3 months post baseline44.93 secondsStandard Deviation 29.84
START-Play InterventionChange in Duration (Time) of Toy Contacts12 months post baseline46.87 secondsStandard Deviation 28.25
Business as UsualChange in Duration (Time) of Toy ContactsBaseline42.28 secondsStandard Deviation 30.7
Business as UsualChange in Duration (Time) of Toy Contacts3 months post baseline47.38 secondsStandard Deviation 28.88
Business as UsualChange in Duration (Time) of Toy Contacts12 months post baseline44.35 secondsStandard Deviation 26.36
Secondary

Change in Early Problem Solving Indicator (EPSI)

Infant growth and development indicator of problem solving skills, adapted for children with motor deficits Modified to Assessment of Problem-Solving in Play (APSP) Minimum=30 Maximum=120 Higher=better outcome

Time frame: Baseline, at end of 3 month intervention, and at 6 and 12 months after baseline

Population: Compared full group and also sub-groups of mild or severely delayed children separately

ArmMeasureGroupValue (MEAN)Dispersion
START-Play InterventionChange in Early Problem Solving Indicator (EPSI)Full group, 3 mo results64.5 score on a scaleStandard Deviation 27.9
START-Play InterventionChange in Early Problem Solving Indicator (EPSI)Severely delayed, 3 mo results57.7 score on a scaleStandard Deviation 31.1
START-Play InterventionChange in Early Problem Solving Indicator (EPSI)Mildly delayed, 3 mo70 score on a scaleStandard Deviation 24.3
START-Play InterventionChange in Early Problem Solving Indicator (EPSI)Full group, 12 mo results90.71 score on a scaleStandard Deviation 42.66
START-Play InterventionChange in Early Problem Solving Indicator (EPSI)severely delayed, 12 month71.98 score on a scaleStandard Deviation 41.6
START-Play InterventionChange in Early Problem Solving Indicator (EPSI)mildly delayed, 12 mo107.95 score on a scaleStandard Deviation 36.5
Business as UsualChange in Early Problem Solving Indicator (EPSI)severely delayed, 12 month61.92 score on a scaleStandard Deviation 42.67
Business as UsualChange in Early Problem Solving Indicator (EPSI)Full group, 3 mo results59.2 score on a scaleStandard Deviation 30.4
Business as UsualChange in Early Problem Solving Indicator (EPSI)Full group, 12 mo results81.95 score on a scaleStandard Deviation 41.92
Business as UsualChange in Early Problem Solving Indicator (EPSI)Severely delayed, 3 mo results46.9 score on a scaleStandard Deviation 30.9
Business as UsualChange in Early Problem Solving Indicator (EPSI)mildly delayed, 12 mo97.63 score on a scaleStandard Deviation 34.68
Business as UsualChange in Early Problem Solving Indicator (EPSI)Mildly delayed, 3 mo70.2 score on a scaleStandard Deviation 25.9
Comparison: Also examined these groups in sub-groups of mildly delayed (\<2.5SD below the mean on motor Bayley score at baseline) and significantly motor delayed (\>2.5SD below the mean on motor Bayley score at baseline)p-value: <0.05Mixed Models Analysis
Secondary

Change in Frequency (Number) of Toy Contacts

behavioral coding of play and hand use, coded from videotape; Coding software used to time contacts during standard reaching task during 5 minute reaching at shoulder level and below.

Time frame: Baseline, at end of 3 month intervention, and at 12 months after baseline

Population: Compared full group pre and post intervention, and then sub-groups of mild and severe Also examined these groups in sub-groups of mildly delayed (\<2.5 Standard Deviations below the mean on motor Bayley score at baseline) and significantly motor delayed (\>2.5SD below the mean on motor Bayley score at baseline)

ArmMeasureGroupValue (MEAN)Dispersion
START-Play InterventionChange in Frequency (Number) of Toy ContactsFull group, 3 mo results13.1 occurrencesStandard Deviation 8.7
START-Play InterventionChange in Frequency (Number) of Toy ContactsSeverely delayed, 3 mo results7.2 occurrencesStandard Deviation 4.8
START-Play InterventionChange in Frequency (Number) of Toy ContactsMildly delayed, 3 mo18.2 occurrencesStandard Deviation 8
START-Play InterventionChange in Frequency (Number) of Toy ContactsFull group, 12 months16.46 occurrencesStandard Deviation 9.48
START-Play InterventionChange in Frequency (Number) of Toy Contactsseverly delayed, 12 month13.64 occurrencesStandard Deviation 10.98
START-Play InterventionChange in Frequency (Number) of Toy Contactsmildly delayed, 12 months19.43 occurrencesStandard Deviation 6.65
Business as UsualChange in Frequency (Number) of Toy Contactsseverly delayed, 12 month9.78 occurrencesStandard Deviation 7.26
Business as UsualChange in Frequency (Number) of Toy ContactsFull group, 3 mo results13 occurrencesStandard Deviation 7.9
Business as UsualChange in Frequency (Number) of Toy ContactsFull group, 12 months15.03 occurrencesStandard Deviation 8.93
Business as UsualChange in Frequency (Number) of Toy ContactsSeverely delayed, 3 mo results9.3 occurrencesStandard Deviation 7.5
Business as UsualChange in Frequency (Number) of Toy Contactsmildly delayed, 12 months20.28 occurrencesStandard Deviation 7.3
Business as UsualChange in Frequency (Number) of Toy ContactsMildly delayed, 3 mo16.5 occurrencesStandard Deviation 6.7
Comparison: Also examined these groups in sub-groups of mildly delayed (\<2.5 Standard Deviations below the mean on motor Bayley score at baseline) and significantly motor delayed (\>2.5 Standard Deviations below the mean on motor Bayley score at baseline)p-value: <0.05Mixed Models Analysis
Secondary

Change in Gross Motor Function Measure, Sitting Subscale

Gross motor skills in the sitting subsection of the Gross Motor Function Measure (GMFM) Minimum value=4 Maximum value=60 Higher scores=better outcome

Time frame: Baseline, at end of 3 month intervention, and at 12 months after baseline

Population: Analyzed full group, and separately the mildly delayed group and the significantly delayed group

ArmMeasureGroupValue (MEAN)Dispersion
START-Play InterventionChange in Gross Motor Function Measure, Sitting SubscaleFull group, 3 mo results35 score on a scaleStandard Deviation 14.2
START-Play InterventionChange in Gross Motor Function Measure, Sitting SubscaleSeverely delayed, 3 mo results26.3 score on a scaleStandard Deviation 13
START-Play InterventionChange in Gross Motor Function Measure, Sitting SubscaleMildly delayed, 3 mo41.9 score on a scaleStandard Deviation 10.9
START-Play InterventionChange in Gross Motor Function Measure, Sitting SubscaleFull group, 12 mo results47.13 score on a scaleStandard Deviation 15.95
START-Play InterventionChange in Gross Motor Function Measure, Sitting Subscaleseverely delayed, 12 month38.26 score on a scaleStandard Deviation 18.37
START-Play InterventionChange in Gross Motor Function Measure, Sitting Subscalemildly delayed, 12 mo55.28 score on a scaleStandard Deviation 6.63
Business as UsualChange in Gross Motor Function Measure, Sitting Subscaleseverely delayed, 12 month32.72 score on a scaleStandard Deviation 19.72
Business as UsualChange in Gross Motor Function Measure, Sitting SubscaleFull group, 3 mo results31.3 score on a scaleStandard Deviation 14.7
Business as UsualChange in Gross Motor Function Measure, Sitting SubscaleFull group, 12 mo results44.88 score on a scaleStandard Deviation 17.54
Business as UsualChange in Gross Motor Function Measure, Sitting SubscaleSeverely delayed, 3 mo results20.9 score on a scaleStandard Deviation 9.5
Business as UsualChange in Gross Motor Function Measure, Sitting Subscalemildly delayed, 12 mo54.39 score on a scaleStandard Deviation 6.58
Business as UsualChange in Gross Motor Function Measure, Sitting SubscaleMildly delayed, 3 mo40.6 score on a scaleStandard Deviation 12.1
Comparison: Also examined these groups in sub-groups of mildly delayed (\<2.5SD below the mean on motor Bayley score at baseline) and significantly motor delayed (\>2.5SD below the mean on motor Bayley score at baseline)p-value: <0.05Mixed Models Analysis
Secondary

Change in Modified Parent Child Interaction-Dyadic Mini Code

Play and interaction of parent and child, coding of behavior frequency and type of interaction; coded as a total percentage of time the parent provided cognitive opportunities

Time frame: Baseline, at end of 3 month intervention, and at 6 and 12 months after baseline

Population: caregiver and infants with motor delays

ArmMeasureGroupValue (MEAN)Dispersion
START-Play InterventionChange in Modified Parent Child Interaction-Dyadic Mini CodeBaseline.22 percentage of timeStandard Deviation 0.26
START-Play InterventionChange in Modified Parent Child Interaction-Dyadic Mini Code3 months post baseline.46 percentage of timeStandard Deviation 0.32
START-Play InterventionChange in Modified Parent Child Interaction-Dyadic Mini Code6 months post baseline.49 percentage of timeStandard Deviation 0.32
START-Play InterventionChange in Modified Parent Child Interaction-Dyadic Mini Code12 months post baseline.65 percentage of timeStandard Deviation 0.31
Business as UsualChange in Modified Parent Child Interaction-Dyadic Mini Code12 months post baseline.62 percentage of timeStandard Deviation 0.3
Business as UsualChange in Modified Parent Child Interaction-Dyadic Mini CodeBaseline.19 percentage of timeStandard Deviation 0.22
Business as UsualChange in Modified Parent Child Interaction-Dyadic Mini Code6 months post baseline.46 percentage of timeStandard Deviation 0.32
Business as UsualChange in Modified Parent Child Interaction-Dyadic Mini Code3 months post baseline.34 percentage of timeStandard Deviation 0.31
p-value: 0.05Linear piecewise modeling
Secondary

Change in Reaching (Change in Looking and Hand Contact of Toy)

Looking while contacting toy, frequency of either unimanual or bimanual contact while looking at toy

Time frame: Baseline, at end of 3 month intervention, and at 12 months after baseline

Population: infants with severe motor delays

ArmMeasureGroupValue (MEAN)Dispersion
START-Play InterventionChange in Reaching (Change in Looking and Hand Contact of Toy)Baseline4.06 occurrencesStandard Deviation 0.88
START-Play InterventionChange in Reaching (Change in Looking and Hand Contact of Toy)3 months post baseline7.45 occurrencesStandard Deviation 1.21
START-Play InterventionChange in Reaching (Change in Looking and Hand Contact of Toy)12 months post baseline10.83 occurrencesStandard Deviation 1.99
Business as UsualChange in Reaching (Change in Looking and Hand Contact of Toy)Baseline5.96 occurrencesStandard Deviation 1.81
Business as UsualChange in Reaching (Change in Looking and Hand Contact of Toy)3 months post baseline7.14 occurrencesStandard Deviation 1.48
Business as UsualChange in Reaching (Change in Looking and Hand Contact of Toy)12 months post baseline7.69 occurrencesStandard Deviation 2.56
p-value: 0.417Mixed Models Analysis
Other Pre-specified

Change in Postural Measure of Trunk Angle

Angle of forward trunk lean in sitting position

Time frame: Change over 3 months

Population: Infants with severe delays

ArmMeasureValue (MEAN)Dispersion
START-Play InterventionChange in Postural Measure of Trunk Angle10.93 degreesStandard Deviation 10.93
Business as UsualChange in Postural Measure of Trunk Angle11.64 degreesStandard Deviation 8.23

Source: ClinicalTrials.gov · Data processed: Feb 12, 2026