The purpose of the study is to investigate the effect of task-oriented robotic glove training on hand function in children with unilateral spastic cerebral palsy.
Children with unilateral spastic cerebral palsy commonly experience impaired hand function, muscle weakness, and reduced fine motor control, which limit their ability to perform daily functional activities and decrease independence. Recent advances in rehabilitation technology, such as soft robotic gloves provide assisted and repetitive hand movements to facilitate motor learning that in turm improve hand function, and bimanual activities required for everyday life. Several studies support the benefit of soft robotic gloves on hand function among adults with neurological disorders while, there is limited evidence conducted its effect on children with unilateral cerebral palsy. Hence, there is need to study the the effect of task-oriented robotic glove training on hand function in children with unilateral spastic cerebral palsy. Fourty children with unilateral spastic cerebral palsy (based on power analysis) from both sexes (5-12 years) will be recruited from outpatient clinics at faculty of physical theray, Deraya and Beni-Suef University, and different pediatric physical therapy rehabilitation clinics. They will be divided randomly into control group (20 children) and study group (20 children). Control group will be participated in conventional physical therapy program. Study group will be received task-oriented training with soft robotic glove in addition to the same conventional physical therapy in control group
Study Type
INTERVENTIONAL
Allocation
RANDOMIZED
Purpose
TREATMENT
Masking
DOUBLE
Enrollment
40
The conventional physical therapy program include neurodevelopmental facilitation technique, proprioceptive training, facilitation of righting, equilibirum and protective reaction, passive stretching for tight muscles, active-assisted and active-free exercises for weak muscles, and hand skills training.
The conventional physical therapy program include neurodevelopmental facilitation technique, proprioceptive training, facilitation of righting, equilibirum and protective reaction, passive stretching for tight muscles, active-assisted and active-free exercises for weak muscles, and hand skills training. Also, task-oriented training in the form of grasping and releasing balls into a barrel, placing and removing pegs, and passing rings along rode with soft robotic glove.
Grip Strength
Hand-held dynamometer will be used to measure hand grip strength. It is a valid and reliable device used to measure isometric grip strength.
Time frame: Up to 12 weeks
Pinch Strength
Pinch gage will be used to measure lateral pinch, 2-point pinch, and 3-point pinch strength. It is a valid and reliable device used to measure pinch strength.
Time frame: Up to 12 weeks
Finger Range of Motion
Hand-held steel finger goniometer will be used for measuring total active ROM of an individual digit (MP, PIP, DIP). It is a valid and reliable device used to measure finger ROM.
Time frame: Up to 12 weeks
Fine and Gross Motor Hand Function
Jebsen-Taylor Hand Function Test (JTHFT) will be used for measuring fine and gross motor hand function. It has seven subsets which are writing, simulated page-turning, lifting small objects, simulated feeding, stacking, and lifting large, lightweight, and heavy objects. The subtests are scored by recording the number of seconds required to complete each test.
Time frame: Up to 12 weeks
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