Effects of Mirror Neurons Stimulation on Motor Skill Rehabilitation in Children With Cerebral Palsy

This study has been completed.
Sponsor:
Collaborator:
National Research Council of Thailand
Information provided by (Responsible Party):
Namfon Mahasup, Thammasat University
ClinicalTrials.gov Identifier:
NCT01267929
First received: December 28, 2010
Last updated: January 31, 2012
Last verified: January 2012
  Purpose

This study aimed to develop VCD program that applying the concept of imitative learning with mirror neurons stimulation on standard rehabilitation technique in children with cerebral palsy. The author will also examine effectiveness of the program by compare the motor function measured by the gross motor function measure (GMFM) between conventional physical therapy and the mirror neurons stimulation based VCD program for two months.


Condition Intervention Phase
Children With Spastic Diplegia Aged Between 2-10 Years.
Gross Motor Function Classification System (GMFCS) Level of 1-3.
Procedure: The mirror neurons stimulation based VCD program
Procedure: The conventional physical therapy
Phase 3

Study Type: Interventional
Study Design: Allocation: Randomized
Endpoint Classification: Efficacy Study
Intervention Model: Parallel Assignment
Masking: Single Blind (Outcomes Assessor)
Primary Purpose: Treatment

Resource links provided by NLM:


Further study details as provided by Thammasat University:

Primary Outcome Measures:
  • Gross Motor Function Measure (GMFM) [ Time Frame: Two months ] [ Designated as safety issue: No ]
    The GMFM is a standardized observational instrument designed and validated to measure change in gross motor function over time in children with cerebral palsy.


Enrollment: 30
Study Start Date: September 2009
Study Completion Date: October 2011
Primary Completion Date: August 2011 (Final data collection date for primary outcome measure)
Arms Assigned Interventions
Experimental: The mirror neurons stimulation based VCD program
The children receive the mirror neurons stimulation based VCD program and practice at home for two months. The mirror neurons stimulation based VCD program that contained four volumes. The running time of each volume is 30 minutes. The children had been practicing for two weeks per volume.
Procedure: The mirror neurons stimulation based VCD program
The children receive the mirror neurons stimulation based VCD program and practice at home for two months. Both groups were measured the motor function by Gross Motor Function Measure (GMFM-66) at the end of the two months.
Active Comparator: The conventional physical therapy
The children receive conventional physical therapy regularly at the hospital once a week for two months. The conventional physical therapy technique in this study derive from the manual technique including the Bobath concept, stretching exercise and functional training for 30-45 minutes at a time. Both groups were measured the motor function by Gross Motor Function Measure (GMFM-66) at the end of the two months.
Procedure: The conventional physical therapy
The children were randomly assigned to receive the conventional physical therapy for two months. Both groups were measured the motor function by GMFM at the end of the two months.

Detailed Description:

A randomized controlled trial was performed with thirty children with cerebral palsy recruited from Thammasat University Hospital and Rajanukul institute. Informed consent was obtained from the participants' parents before participation in this study. The participants were randomly assigned according to the randomization list to receive either the mirror neurons stimulation based VCD program and practice at home or conventional physical therapy for two months. The participants in the experiment group received the mirror neurons stimulation based VCD program and practice at home three times a day. Concerning the control group, the participants received conventional physical therapy regularly at the hospital once a week for two months. Both experimental and control groups were measured their motor functions with gross motor function measure (GMFM).

  Eligibility

Ages Eligible for Study:   2 Years to 10 Years
Genders Eligible for Study:   Both
Accepts Healthy Volunteers:   No
Criteria

Inclusion Criteria:

  • Children with cerebral palsy aged between 2-10 years old
  • GMFCS level of one to three
  • Able to verbal instruction
  • Sitting are performed without assistance
  • Standing and walking are performed with adult assistance
  • No severe limitation of joint movement

Exclusion Criteria:

  • The children were received orthopedic intervention or botulinum toxin injection within 6 months
  • Seizure
  • Other conditions that prevent children from participate in research project
  • Severe visual and hearing deficits
  Contacts and Locations
Please refer to this study by its ClinicalTrials.gov identifier: NCT01267929

Locations
Thailand
Department of Physical therapy, Faculty of Allied Health Sciences Thammasat University
Klongluang, Pathumthani, Thailand, 12120
Sponsors and Collaborators
Thammasat University
National Research Council of Thailand
Investigators
Study Director: Assoc.Prof.Paskorn Sritipsukho, MD Thailand:Faculty of Medicine Thammasat University
  More Information

No publications provided

Responsible Party: Namfon Mahasup, Ph.D.candidate, Postgraduate Studied Program, faculty of Medicine, Thammasat University, Thammasat University
ClinicalTrials.gov Identifier: NCT01267929     History of Changes
Other Study ID Numbers: MTU-P-1-71/51
Study First Received: December 28, 2010
Last Updated: January 31, 2012
Health Authority: Thailand:Faculty of Medicine Thammasat University Ethics Commitee for Human Research

Keywords provided by Thammasat University:
Children with cerebral palsy
Gross Motor Function Measure
Imitative learning
Mirror neuron
Action observation
Conventional physical therapy

Additional relevant MeSH terms:
Cerebral Palsy
Brain Damage, Chronic
Brain Diseases
Central Nervous System Diseases
Nervous System Diseases

ClinicalTrials.gov processed this record on June 17, 2013