Em-power: Maximizing Functional Independence for Children with Severe Cerebral Palsy

Description

For children with severe cerebral palsy, a powered wheelchair (PWC) may provide their only option for functional mobility and independence. PWC use is often restricted to a small percentage of children who can quickly demonstrate proficient PWC skills within a single 30-minute PWC trial. This 2-arm, parallel group, single blinded, pre-test-post-test randomized controlled trial will test our hypothesis that an 8-week PWC skills training intervention will produce greater improvements in children's PWC skills capacity immediately after the intervention and at an 8-week follow-up assessment.

Conditions

Cerebral Palsy

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Study Overview

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Study Details

Study overview

For children with severe cerebral palsy, a powered wheelchair (PWC) may provide their only option for functional mobility and independence. PWC use is often restricted to a small percentage of children who can quickly demonstrate proficient PWC skills within a single 30-minute PWC trial. This 2-arm, parallel group, single blinded, pre-test-post-test randomized controlled trial will test our hypothesis that an 8-week PWC skills training intervention will produce greater improvements in children's PWC skills capacity immediately after the intervention and at an 8-week follow-up assessment.

Em-power: Maximizing Functional Independence for Children with Severe Cerebral Palsy

Em-power: Maximizing Functional Independence for Children with Severe Cerebral Palsy

Condition
Cerebral Palsy
Intervention / Treatment

-

Contacts and Locations

Grand Rapids

Grand Valley State University, Grand Rapids, Michigan, United States, 49503

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

  • * Diagnosis of severe CP (Gross Motor Function Classification System Level IV or V)
  • * Inability to functionally walk or functionally propel a manual wheelchair as assessed by the Principal Investigator a licensed physical therapist
  • * Demonstrate cause and effect skills in the IndieTrainer consistent with an Assessment of Learning Powered mobility use (ALP Assessment) Phase 4 or higher (i.e., understand that they are moving the IndieTrainer using the switch(es) or joystick) as assessed by the Principal Investigator, a licensed physical therapist.
  • * In addition, one parent/caregiver must be conversant in English and be able to provide their child's medical and health history and be willing to take on the parent participant role.
  • * The inability to sit in their own manual wheelchair or adaptive stroller for 60 minutes (as this would preclude them safely using the IndieTrainer System for the 60-minute intervention sessions)
  • * Their manual wheelchair or adaptive stroller cannot be safely used with the IndieTrainer System
  • * They already have an individually prescribed power wheelchair
  • * If the Principal Investigator, a licensed physical therapist, determines that based on the child's medical and health history, that they cannot safely participate in power wheelchair skills training.

Ages Eligible for Study

5 Years to 17 Years

Sexes Eligible for Study

ALL

Accepts Healthy Volunteers

No

Collaborators and Investigators

Grand Valley State University,

Study Record Dates

2027-03