Clinical Research Directory

Effect of Task Specific Electrical Stimulation on Upper Limb Gross Motor Skills in Children With Spastic Quadriplegia

Cerebral palsy is a non-progressive lesion of the brain occurring before 2 years of age resulting in disorders of posture and movement.( Ostensjo S, 2004)( Keles MN, 2018). Although non- progressive, motor impairments develop as the child grows leading to activity and participation restriction. For children with CP, body function and structure impairments include changes in muscle tone and strength that affect the ability to control movement, specifically in regard to postural responses, selective control, regulation of activity, ability to learn unique movements, and inappropriate sequencing.(Ross SA,2007)( Ostensjo S, 2004) . Lack of proper loading and maladaptive muscle pulls over time causes the skeletal system to adapt to positions of malalignment, malformation, and overall bone weakness (Beckung E, 2007) (Elbasan B, 2018). These changes lead to delays in the natural progression of gross motor skills. As the child falls behind in motor function, they also fall behind in cognitive stimulation and development.( Akaya KU, 2018) . Understanding the anatomical and physiological implications that CP has on the developing child is necessary for physical therapists to treat this population, especially when utilizing electrical stimulation. Spastic quadriplegia Is a type of cerebral palsy that affects all four limbs and typically involves significant motor impairment. It results from brain damage that occurs before, during, or shortly after birth, affecting the areas of the brain responsible for movement and coordination. Electrical stimulation is a mode of physical therapy that can be utilized in the treatment of various nerve and muscle injuries, in addition to patients with acute and chronic pain. It involves an electrical pulse applied to a muscle or nerve that activates excitable tissue utilizing internal or external electrodes to build muscle strength, reduce pain, as well as create or support limb movement (Kerr C, 2007). Task-specific electrical stimulation (TASES) is a therapeutic technique used primarily in rehabilitation settings to enhance motor function. The primary aim of TASES is to facilitate movement and improve motor learning by applying electrical stimulation to specific muscles during targeted tasks.

Task-oriented Training Versus Group Circuit Training in Children With Quadriplegic Cerebral Palsy

Cerebral palsy is a common neurodevelopmental disorder that affects movement, posture, and functional abilities in children. This randomized controlled trial focuses on comparing the effects of task-oriented circuit training and group circuit training on functional performance and functional capacity in children with quadriplegic cerebral palsy. Outcomes will be measured using the Gross Motor Function Measure (GMFM-88) and the Activities Scale for Kids-Capability version (ASK-C). The findings of this study may help identify effective rehabilitation strategies for improving functional outcomes in children with cerebral palsy.

Postural Management for Hip Luxation in Quadriplegic Cerebral Palsy

Cerebral palsy (CP) is the most common motor disability in childhood. Among these, hip luxation represents the most frequent and clinically relevant one, affecting 72% of non-ambulatory CP children. Reconstructive surgical treatment is debated in severe CP children, for whom it is crucial to identify an effective preventive approach. The aim of our study is to verify if keeping a sitting position centering femoral heads is more effective than usual postural management (sitting with the trunk aligned and hips abducted), in preventing hip luxation in quadriplegic CP children. It's a multicenter randomized controlled study (13 sites involved). A total of 102 quadriplegic CP children, aged 1-6 years-old, classified as Gross Motor Function Measure System 4 or 5, will be recruited and randomized to usual or experimental sitting, at least 5 hours a day, for 2 years. The primary outcome will be the degree of luxation, measured by means of the Migration Percentage (MP), on pelvic radiography, at 12 and 24 months. Secondary outcomes will include compliance and Health Related-Quality of Life, using validated tools, hip pain, device cost, MRI lesions, concurrent direct neuromotor treatment, use of standing devices and spasticity treatments (botulinum toxin, per os or intrathecal baclofen, selective dorsal rhizotomy). Experimental sitting is expected to reduce the MP change compared to usual care. It will be of interest to compare compliance, QoL and costs in either groups: aspects affecting the effectiveness. Furthermore to evaluate correlations between MP and spasticity treatments, MRI lesion type, and other clinical features.