Using Power Mobility Training to Promote Arm & Hand Function in Children With Cerebral Palsy

Conditions

• Cerebral Palsy
• Hemiplegia, Infantile

Eligibility Criteria

Sex

ALL

Age

3 Years - 8 Years

Healthy Volunteers

Not accepted

Interventions

• Arm- and hand-use focused power mobility training — OTHER
  These arm- and hand-use focused power mobility training activities will encompass both navigational/maneuvering activities and play-based reaching and grasping activities embedded into the navigational/maneuvering activities. During power mobility training activities, children will be asked to wear a soft mitten or sock on their preferred hand to help them remember to use their less preferred hand and arm.

Study Details

Approximately 40% of children with ambulatory cerebral palsy have significant functional asymmetries in arm and hand function. Children with these significant functional asymmetries have difficulties using their more-affected (less preferred) arm and hand in daily activities, especially true in daily activities requiring bilateral hand and arm use. Recent research suggests that power mobility training provided via a ride-on toy may help to motivate these children to use their less preferred arm and hand. This research further notes that participation in power mobility training designed to encourage a child to use their less preferred arm and hand also may help to improve their arm and hand function and use in their daily activities. This exploratory study seeks to explore an innovative intervention using arm- and hand-use focused power mobility training activities, encompassing both navigational/maneuvering activities and embedded play-based reaching and grasping activities. During power mobility training activities, children will be asked to wear a soft mitten or sock on their preferred hand to help them remember to use their less preferred hand and arm. The purpose of this exploratory study is to examine both the effect and feasibility of a 6-week laboratory-based arm-and hand-use focused power mobility training program.

Key Dates

Start date

Jan 19, 2026

Status verified

Jan 2026

Primary completion

Dec 31, 2029

Completion

Dec 31, 2029

Study Design

Enrollment

10 participants (estimated)

Allocation

NA

Intervention model

SINGLE_GROUP

Primary purpose

TREATMENT

Arms

• Experimental: Arm- and hand-use focused power mobility training group
  These arm- and hand-use focused power mobility training activities will be provided via a ride-on toy and will encompass both navigational/maneuvering activities and play-based reaching and grasping activities embedded into the navigational/maneuvering activities. During power mobility training activities, children will be asked to wear a soft mitten or sock on their preferred hand to help them remember to use their less preferred hand and arm.

Primary Outcome Measure

Canadian Occupational Performance Measure [ Time Frame: From enrollment to the end of treatment at 6 weeks ]

Central Contacts

• Lisa K. Kenyon, PT, DPT, PhD, PCS
  616-331-5653
  [email protected]

Locations (1)

Find similar trials in Grand Rapids, MI

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