Application of Transcranial Direct Current or placebo combined with Constraint Induced Movement Therapy (CIMT) and bimanual intensive therapy (BIT) in infantile hemiplegia (4-8 years). Before, after the treatment and 3 months after the treatment, the functionality of the affected upper limb will be assessed: Spontaneous use, alignment of the affected segment in movement, action of grasping and releasing an object with the wrist in a neutral position, extension and flexion and quality of life. CIMT will last 3 hours per day in a period of two weeks (10 days from M-F), and the transcranial direct current or placebo will be combined during the first 20 minutes of it. In addition, 45 minutes of BIT will be performed during the third week (3 days). The total time of the therapy will be 33 hours and 45 minutes. CIMT and BIT will have a playful and group performance model.
Objectives: To determine the efficacy of the combined application of transcranial direct current (tDCS) with a restraint-induced movement therapy program and bimanual therapy on quality of life, quality of movement and spontaneous use of the affected upper limb in children. with infantile hemiparesis. Design: Randomized clinical trial with triple blind placebo control. Participants: 30 children between 4 and 8 years old diagnosed with infantile hemiparesis randomized into two groups. Intervention: Program of 15 sessions (3 weeks) in which 20 minutes of cathodic tDCS (active or placebo) will be applied during the performance of 3 hours of restriction-induced movement therapy (CIMT) in the first two weeks and with 45 minutes of bimanual intensive therapy (TIB) in the third week. The effective duration of the intervention will be 33 hours and 45 minutes. Variables: The outcome variables will be recorded before the intervention program, just after and three months after its completion. Analysis: An intention-to-treat analysis will be performed. For the main result variables, a two-factor ANOVA (intervention-time) will be performed with a post-hoc analysis with Bonferroni correction.
Study Type
INTERVENTIONAL
Allocation
RANDOMIZED
Purpose
TREATMENT
Masking
TRIPLE
Enrollment
18
This intervention will consist in the combination of tDCS with CIMT (30 hours) and then with BIT (3 hours and 45 minutes)
This intervention will consist in the combination of sham tDCS with CIMT (30 hours) and then with BIT (3 hours and 45 minutes)
University of Castilla-La Mancha
Toledo, Spain
Change of the spontaneous use of affected upper limb
This outcome will be assessed with Shuee evaluation. This evaluation uses the modified House scale which a maximum of 45 points can be obtained for the spontaneous use, and the values obtained can be converted into percentages. In addition, the dynamic positioning of the affected upper extremity is assessed through 16 structured activities in the Shuee evaluation (Positioning of the thumb, fingers, wrist, elbow, and forearm). TAcquiring a maximum score of 72 and their values can be considered in percentages. Another of the measured variables into the Shuee evaluation is the action of grasping and releasing an object with the wrist joint in different positions (results provided in percentages). This evaluation is validated for children with hemiplegia from 3 to 18 years old.
Time frame: Baseline, post-treatment (at 13 days), and follow-up at 12 weeks
Change in the experience of use of the affected upper limb
This outcome will be assessed with CHEQ questionnaire. It is validated for children with have reduction in the upper limb from 8 to 18 years old. It is a questionnaire composed of 27 questions about the activities of daily life and the execution of the task. Whether it is done with one hand, with both hands or with help and how effective is the use of the affected hand on a scale of 1-4, the time of execution of the task on a scale of 1-4 and the discomfort of execution of it on a scale of 1-4. It can be answered by the family, the therapist or the child himself from the age of 13.
Time frame: Baseline, post-treatment (at 13 days), and follow-up at 12 weeks
Change in the Quality of life in cerebral palsy
Use the PedsQL questionnaire to measure the quality of life. It is a questionnaire answered by the parents with children with cerebral palsy from 2-18 years old. It is made up of 35 items that describe different situations in the child's life. The questionnaire has different domains related to the physical activities, school activities, emotional activities, hygiene. The maximum score obtained can be 100 (0-100), which indicates that the higher the score, the better the quality of life.
Time frame: Baseline, post-treatment (at 13 days), and follow-up at 12 weeks
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