A Motor Learning Intervention to Target Walking Performance in Ambulant Children With Cerebral Palsy

Royal College of Surgeons, Ireland14 enrolled

Overview

The goal of this clinical trial is to learn if a new therapy approach to improve walking ability in children with Cerebral Palsy is acceptable to the children and the families in a community setting. The main questions we look to answer are: 1. Do the children/teens tolerate the therapy and feel that it is helpful? 2. Do the parents/ families feel the therapy helps and is easy to commit to? 3. Do the children/teens complete all their therapy sessions and assessments as planned? The participants will trial the therapy for 30 hours over 6 weeks and will perform assessments before and after to see if they meet their goals. They will also be interviewed to see how they felt about the therapy when they finish.

The therapy being trialed in this study uses motor learning theory to try and improve or change walking patterns to improve the child/teen's walking goal. Therapy will target their own walking goal and they can choose the format of their therapy as long as they complete 30 hours of which 24 hours must be in the clinic within a 6 week period.

Study Type

INTERVENTIONAL

Allocation

Purpose

TREATMENT

Masking

NONE

Enrollment

Conditions

Cerebral Palsy Walking, Difficulty

Interventions

MOBILEOTHER

Intensive motor learning based intervention to target specific walking goals as identified using the Gait Outcome Assessment List. Full Protocol outlining strategies available on request. Three key principles underpin the intervention: Principle 1: The type of task Principle 2: The type of practice Principle 3: The type of Feedback

Eligibility

Sex: ALLMin age: 6 YearsMax age: 17 Years

Medical Language ↔ Plain English

Inclusion Criteria: * Primary diagnosis of Cerebral Palsy (GMFCS Levels I-III) * Has a specific walking related goal * Has capacity to follow instruction * Has a primary caregiver who can support a home program Exclusion Criteria: * Has had surgery within 6 months of intervention start date * Has had botox/ baclofen within 3 months of intervention start date * Has a dual diagnosis that impacts ability to follow instruction * Has a significant cognitive impairment

Outcomes

Primary Outcomes

Recruitment Rate

Percentage of eligible numbers recruited

Time frame: rolling recruitment over 1.5 years

Adherence to Intervention

Percentage of total hours practiced/ planned dose (30 hours)