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Title: | Does somatosensory discrimination therapy alter sensorimotor upper limb function differently compared to motor therapy in children and adolescents with unilateral cerebral palsy: study protocol for a randomized controlled trial | Authors: | KLEEREN, Lize Mailleux, Lisa Mclean, Belinda Elliott, Catherine Dequeker, Griet Van Campenhout, Anja de Xivry, Jean-Jacques Orban Verheyden, Geert Ortibus, Els KLINGELS, Katrijn Feys, Hilde |
Issue Date: | 2024 | Publisher: | BMC | Source: | Trials, 25 (1) (Art N° 147) | Abstract: | BackgroundBesides motor impairments, up to 90% of the children and adolescents with unilateral cerebral palsy (uCP) present with somatosensory impairments in the upper limb. As somatosensory information is of utmost importance for coordinated movements and motor learning, somatosensory impairments can further compromise the effective use of the impaired upper limb in daily life activities. Yet, intervention approaches specifically designated to target these somatosensory impairments are insufficiently investigated in children and adolescents with uCP. Therefore, the aim of this randomized controlled trial (RCT) is to compare the effectiveness of somatosensory discrimination therapy and dose-matched motor therapy to improve sensorimotor upper limb function in children and adolescents with uCP, who experience somatosensory impairments in the upper limb. We will further explore potential behavioral and neurological predictors of therapy response.MethodsA parallel group, evaluator-blinded, phase-II, single-center RCT will be conducted for which 50 children and adolescents with uCP, aged 7 to 15 years, will be recruited. Participants will be randomized to receive 3 weekly sessions of 45 minutes of either somatosensory discrimination therapy or upper limb motor therapy for a period of 8 weeks. Stratification will be performed based on age, manual ability, and severity of tactile impairment at baseline. Sensorimotor upper limb function will be evaluated at baseline, immediately after the intervention and after 6 months follow-up. The primary outcome measure will be bimanual performance as measured with the Assisting Hand Assessment. Secondary outcomes include a comprehensive test battery to objectify somatosensory function and measures of bimanual coordination, unimanual motor function, and goal attainment. Brain imaging will be performed at baseline to investigate structural brain lesion characteristics and structural connectivity of the white matter tracts.DiscussionThis protocol describes the design of an RCT comparing the effectiveness of somatosensory discrimination therapy and dose-matched motor therapy to improve sensorimotor upper limb function in children and adolescents with uCP. The results of this study may aid in the selection of the most effective upper limb therapy, specifically for children and adolescents with tactile impairments.Trial registrationClinicalTrials.gov (NCT06006065). Registered on August 8, 2023. | Notes: | Kleeren, L (corresponding author), Katholieke Univ Leuven, Dept Rehabil Sci, Res Grp Neurorehabil, B-3001 Leuven, Belgium.; Kleeren, L (corresponding author), KU Leuven Child & Youth Inst, B-3000 Leuven, Belgium.; Kleeren, L (corresponding author), Hasselt Univ, Fac Rehabil Sci, Rehabil Res Ctr, B-3590 Diepenbeek, Belgium. lize.kleeren@kuleuven.be |
Keywords: | Unilateral cerebral palsy;Upper extremity;Somatosensation;Sensorimotor function;Neuroimaging;Bimanual performance;Randomized controlled trial;Physiotherapy;Occupational therapy | Document URI: | http://hdl.handle.net/1942/42642 | e-ISSN: | 1745-6215 | DOI: | 10.1186/s13063-024-07967-4 | ISI #: | 001172275700001 | Rights: | The Author(s) 2024. Open Access This article is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 International License, which permits use, sharing, adaptation, distribution and reproduction in any medium or format, as long as you give appropriate credit to the original author(s) and the source, provide a link to the Creative Commons licence, and indicate if changes were made. The images or other third party material in this article are included in the article’s Creative Commons licence, unless indicated otherwise in a credit line to the material. If material is not included in the article’s Creative Commons licence and your intended use is not permitted by statutory regulation or exceeds the permitted use, you will need to obtain permission directly from the copyright holder. To view a copy of this licence, visit http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/. The Creative Commons Public Domain Dedication waiver (http://creativecom‑ mons.org/publicdomain/zero/1.0/) applies to the data made available in this article, unless otherwise stated in a credit line to the data. | Category: | A1 | Type: | Journal Contribution |
Appears in Collections: | Research publications |
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