NCT07342348

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

• Status: Recruiting
• Phase: N/A
• Study type: Interventional
• Enrollment: 10 (estimated)
• Sponsor: Grand Valley State University · Academic / Other
• Sex: All
• Age: 3 Years – 8 Years
• Healthy volunteers: Not accepted

Summary

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.

Conditions

• Cerebral Palsy
• Hemiplegia, Infantile

Interventions

Type	Name	Description
OTHER	Arm- and hand-use focused power mobility training	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.

Timeline

• Start date: 2026-01-19
• Primary completion: 2029-12-31
• Completion: 2029-12-31
• First posted: 2026-01-15
• Last updated: 2026-01-15

Locations

1 site across 1 country: United States