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Improving Neck Control in Children With Cerebral Palsy Using Robotics
Sponsor: Columbia University
Summary
The goal of this study is to characterize the head-neck motion of children with cerebral palsy and investigate how robotics can be used to improve the head-neck coordination of these children. Aim 1 is a cross-sectional study. In this single-session, kinematic and muscle activity data will be collected during the postural static, active-proactive, and reactive postural head tasks. Gross Motor Functional Classification System (GMFCS) levels will also be collected to categorize the sample into subgroups. Aim 2 is a prospective cohort quasi-experimental study. The data will be collected at baseline, across 12 intervention sessions, 1 week post-intervention, and 3 months follow-up. Functional assessments will be used to compare across the pre, mid, and post training. Participants will be assessed in Gross Motor Functional Measures (GMFM), Seated Posture and Reaching Control (SP\&R-co), and Canadian Occupational and Performance Measure (COPM). The primary outcomes will be SP\&R-co test and COPM pre- and post-intervention.
Official title: Promoting Functional Neck Motion in Patients With Cerebral Palsy Using a Dynamic Neck Brace
Key Details
Gender
All
Age Range
11 Years - 21 Years
Study Type
INTERVENTIONAL
Enrollment
30
Start Date
2025-03-06
Completion Date
2026-12-30
Last Updated
2025-09-09
Healthy Volunteers
Yes
Conditions
Interventions
Neck Brace Device
The neck brace device will be manufactured in the Mechanical Department at Columbia University. The device measures head motion and EMG by electronic sensors, passively supports the head in certain configurations by springs, and actively assists head movement by motors. Motor learning principles will be combined with robotics to apply gentle forces on the head-neck during training.
Locations (2)
ROAR Lab, Mudd Hall
New York, New York, United States
Columbia University Irving Medical Center
New York, New York, United States