Unilateral spastic cerebral palsy (USCP) is the most common subtype of cerebral palsy and significantly limits upper limb function. Traditional therapies such as constraint-induced movement therapy (CIMT) and bimanual intensive training offer limited benefits. Pharmacologic treatments often produce behavioral side effects and do not address underlying neuro-plastic deficits. There is an unmet need for safe, effective, non-invasive interventions targeting motor recovery through cortical modulation.
Study Type
INTERVENTIONAL
Allocation
RANDOMIZED
Purpose
TREATMENT
Masking
TRIPLE
Enrollment
15
Anodal tDCS will be applied to the affected motor cortex area for 20 minutes along with the bimanual motor training. The intervention will be applied for 5 days in 1-2 weeks.
Sham tDCS will be applied to the affected motor cortex for 20 minutes along with the bimanual motor training. The intervention will be applied for 5 days in 1-2 weeks.
Pakistan Railway Hospital
Rawalpindi, Punjab Province, Pakistan
ABILHAND-KIDS
ABILHAND-Kids is used to measure a child's manual ability (using their hands/arms) for daily tasks, especially for children with conditions like cerebral palsy or brachial plexus birth injury.
Time frame: baseline, after 1 week of intervention
Box and Block test
The Box and Block Test (BBT) assesses gross manual dexterity in kids with Cerebral Palsy (CP) aged 6-15 by having them move as many 1-inch blocks as possible from one box side to another in 60 seconds, one block at a time, testing each hand separately
Time frame: Baseline, after 1 week of intervention
Movement-related cortical potentials
Movement-related cortical potentials (MRCP) with the help of EEG: peak amplitude, onset latency, and area under the curve at Cz/C3/C4.
Time frame: baseline, 1 week after intervention
Event-related desynchronization (ERD) / synchronization (ERS)
Event-related desynchronization (ERD) / synchronization (ERS) with the help of EEG: mu (8-13 Hz) and beta (13-30 Hz) ERD magnitude and timing during movement.
Time frame: baseline, 1 week after intervention
Resting-state sensorimotor beta/mu power
Resting-state sensorimotor beta/mu power with the help of EEG: absolute and relative power at C3/C4 and central ROI.
Time frame: baseline, 1 week after intervention
NIH Toolbox Cognitive and Emotional Scores
The NIH Toolbox for the Assessment of Neurological and Behavioral Function (NIH Toolbox) is a set of standardized measures used by researchers and clinicians to assess motor, cognitive, emotional, and sensory functions.
This platform is for informational purposes only and does not constitute medical advice. Always consult a qualified healthcare professional.
Time frame: baseline, 1 week after intervention