Intensive Unimanual (CIMT) and Bimanual Training (HABIT) in Children With Hemiplegia

Teachers College, Columbia University

Status: Completed

Conditions: Cerebral Palsy; Children; Hemiplegia

Treatments: Other: Hand-arm Bimanual Intensive Therapy; Other: Constraint-induced Movement Therapy

Study type: Interventional

Funder types: Other

Identifiers

NCT02918890

14-140

Details and patient eligibility

About

A randomized control trial examining the relationship between changes in hand function and brain plasticity following intensive therapy. Two treatment approaches are used: constraint-induced movement therapy (CIMT) or Hand-Arm Bimanual Intensive Therapy (HABIT). The protocols have been developed at TC Columbia University to be child friendly and draw upon our extensive experience with constraint-induced movement therapy in children with cerebral palsy. Our center has been providing interventions camps for children with cerebral palsy since 1998. The interventions are performed in a 15 day day-camp setting with several children and at least one interventionist per child. The aim of the intervention is to improve the use of the affected hand and quality of overall movement in a fun, social setting. PARTICIPATION IS FREE. Please check out our website for more information: http://www.tc.edu/centers/cit/

Full description

Constraint-induced Movement Therapy and Bimanual training are motor-learning based approaches to engage children in fun activities. This study looks at what areas of the brain are responsible for recovery after intensive training. We are trying to understand how the brain responds to movement training and hope that in the future we can develop new treatments for hemiplegia based on what we learn about the brain in this study.

To study the areas of the brain we will use Magnetic Resonance Imaging (MRI) to take pictures of the brain and Transcranial Magnetic Stimulation (TMS) to determine parts of the brain involved in using the hand. TMS uses a brief magnetic field over the scalp by using a wand that looks like a figure 8. The wand can make brief magnetic fields over a series of spots on your child's head to activate the brain cells under the wand. Non-invasive, single pulse TMS will be used in this study, which is considered minimal risk and tolerable to children. If your child has a recurrent history of seizures after two years of age, he/she might not qualify.

Enrollment: 83 patients

Sex: All

Ages: 6 to 17 years old

Volunteers: No Healthy Volunteers

Inclusion criteria

• Diagnosis of unilateral cerebral palsy

Exclusion criteria

• Current medical illness unrelated to CP
• Seizure disorder
• Current use of medications know to lower the seizure threshold
• Metallic object(s) in body, other than dental fillings
• Pregnancy
• Claustrophobia

Trial design

Primary purpose: Treatment

Allocation: Randomized

Interventional model: Parallel Assignment

Masking: None (Open label)

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83 participants in 2 patient groups

Constraint Induced Movement Therapy

Experimental group

Description:

Procedure: Constraint-Induced Movement Therapy 90 hours Other Name: CIT, CI Therapy, restraint therapy, PT, OT, rehab

Treatment:

Other: Constraint-induced Movement Therapy

Hand-Arm Bimanual Intensive Therapy

Experimental group

Description:

Procedure: Hand-Arm Bimanual Intensive Therapy (HABIT) 90 hours Other Name: HABIT, bimanual training, bilateral training, restraint therapy, PT, OT, rehab

Treatment:

Other: Hand-arm Bimanual Intensive Therapy