Robot-assisted Hand Training to Induce Manual Functional Change and Cerebral Neural Plasticity in Children With Cerebral Palsy
Cook Children's Health Care System
Summary
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.
Description
This study is designed to test whether robot-assisted hand training with Amadeo improves manual functions and induces cerebral neural plasticity in children with CP. To evaluate the efficacy of the robot-assisted hand training, investigators will measure manual motor and sensory functions with behavioral tasks and assess neural activities in the sensorimotor cortical network with high-density electroencephalography (HD-EEG) and transcranial magnetic stimulation (TMS) one day before, one day after, and two months after the robot-assisted training. The study will provide direct evidence on the e…
Eligibility
- Age range
- 7–18 years
- Sex
- All
- Healthy volunteers
- Yes
Inclusion Criteria: * An evaluation by a pediatric neurologist, Physical Medicine and Rehabilitation (PMNR) physicians (physiatrists), neonatal developmental specialist, or neonatologist with a diagnosis of CP. * Classified as high-functioning (I or II) at the Gross Motor Function Classification System (GMFCS) * Participants in the control group should have no history of neurological disorder or brain injury Exclusion Criteria: * Psychoactive or myorelaxant medication during study procedures * Genetic syndrome diagnosis * History of trauma or brain operation * Inability to sit still * Metal…
Interventions
- DeviceRobot (Amadeo)-assisted Training
Amadeo® is an FDA Class I Exempt hand/finger robot that has the capacity to precisely measure hand/finger functions. To use Amadeo, a participant will be seated in a chair. The height of the robot arm support will be adjusted to achieve a comfortable position for the participant. One of the participant's arms will be will be placed on the robot arm support. Magnetic finger tips will then be attached to fingers and thumb. After this, fingers and thumb will be connected to the robot finger sliders. To use Amadeo, the movement range and maximal force of each finger will be configured according to the finger's capability. The following four types of function assessments will be performed with Amadeo: Force, range of motion, tone, and spasticity. Each session will last approximately one hour.
Location
- Cook Children's Medical CenterFort Worth, Texas