Effects of Remote Ischemic Conditioning on Bimanual Skill Learning and Corticospinal Excitability in Children With Unilateral Cerebral Palsy

Description

Unilateral cerebral palsy (UCP) is a leading cause of childhood disability. An early brain injury impairs the upper extremity function, bimanual coordination, and impacts the child's independence. The existing therapeutic interventions have higher training doses and modest effect sizes. Thus, there is a critical need to find an effective priming agent to enhance bimanual skill learning in children with UCP. This study aims to determine the effects of a novel priming agent, remote ischemic conditioning (RIC), when paired with bimanual skill training to enhance bimanual skill learning and to augment skill dependent plasticity in children with UCP.

Conditions

Unilateral Cerebral Palsy

Study Overview

Study Details

Study overview

Unilateral cerebral palsy (UCP) is a leading cause of childhood disability. An early brain injury impairs the upper extremity function, bimanual coordination, and impacts the child's independence. The existing therapeutic interventions have higher training doses and modest effect sizes. Thus, there is a critical need to find an effective priming agent to enhance bimanual skill learning in children with UCP. This study aims to determine the effects of a novel priming agent, remote ischemic conditioning (RIC), when paired with bimanual skill training to enhance bimanual skill learning and to augment skill dependent plasticity in children with UCP.

Remote Ischemic Conditioning Combined With Bimanual Task Training to Enhance Bimanual Skill Learning and Corticospinal Excitability in Children With Unilateral Cerebral Palsy

Effects of Remote Ischemic Conditioning on Bimanual Skill Learning and Corticospinal Excitability in Children With Unilateral Cerebral Palsy

Condition
Unilateral Cerebral Palsy
Intervention / Treatment

-

Contacts and Locations

Greenville

Dept. of Physical Therapy, East Carolina University, Greenville, North Carolina, United States, 27834

Participation Criteria

Researchers look for people who fit a certain description, called eligibility criteria. Some examples of these criteria are a person's general health condition or prior treatments.

For general information about clinical research, read Learn About Studies.

Eligibility Criteria

  • 1. Children diagnosed with unilateral cerebral palsy (UCP)
  • 2. Manual Ability Classification System (MACS) levels I-III
  • 3. Ability to complete a stack of 3 cups in 1 minute
  • 4. Mainstream in school
  • 1. Children with other developmental disabilities such as autism, attention deficit hyperactivity disorder, developmental coordination disorders, etc.
  • 2. Children with absent active motor threshold
  • 3. Children with known cardiorespiratory, vascular, and metabolic disorders
  • 4. Children with neoplasm and hydrocephalus
  • 5. Children who are currently receiving or received other adjunct therapies such as rTMS and tDCS in the past 6 months
  • 6. Children with seizures within last 2 years and on anti-seizure medications
  • 7. Children with metal implants and incompatible medical devices

Ages Eligible for Study

8 Years to 16 Years

Sexes Eligible for Study

ALL

Accepts Healthy Volunteers

No

Collaborators and Investigators

East Carolina University,

Study Record Dates

2025-07-31