Cerebral palsy | Top 19 novel treatment findings

Magnesium sulfate reduces cerebral palsy risk in preterm infants.

MgSO uptake increased in all maternity units, with the PReCePT program improving overall uptake. Enhanced support did not significantly improve uptake but was associated with better teamwork and understanding among staff.

Study published: 2023-02-16

Therapeutic hypothermia improves motor function in infants with neonatal hypoxic-ischemic encephalopathy.

The study found that children treated with TH showed correlations between their motor performance and white matter connectivity, specifically in areas of the brain associated with motor function. This suggests that TH may help preserve some aspects of motor ability and brain organization, even in the absence of CP. The findings indicate that while TH reduces severe disabilities, it may not fully prevent motor impairments, highlighting the need for ongoing assessment and intervention.

Study published: 2021-05-03

Virtual reality games improve rehabilitation for stroke patients.

Positive outcomes include increased patient engagement in rehabilitation, improved adherence to rehabilitation protocols, and enhanced neuroplasticity through personalized training that utilizes biological signals in a natural way.

Study published: 2024-01-09

Virtual reality improves balance in children

The study indicates that the low-cost virtual reality rehabilitation program will improve postural control in children with cerebral palsy type spastic hemiplegia, with TR being as effective as FtF delivery.

Study published: 2022-04-28

Spinal stimulation enhances gait in CP

The combination of tSCS and SBLTT led to greater increases in hip and knee extension during gait, improved posture, and reduced spasticity in children with CP. Participants exhibited a more upright posture and better coordination during walking after the intervention.

Study published: 2024-06-01

Gait pattern improvement reduces fatigue in children with cerebral palsy

Improvements in gait pattern and motor control can lead to reduced metabolic power and fatigue in children with CP, enhancing their physical activity levels.

Study published: 2022-01-28

Robotic ankle training enhances walking in CP

The therapy resulted in decreased co-contraction at the ankle (29 ± 11%, p = 0.02), a more typical plantar flexor activation profile (33 ± 13%, p = 0.01), improved neuromuscular control, a more mechanically-efficient gait pattern (58 ± 34%, p < 0.05), and a reduced metabolic cost of transport (29 ± 15%, p = 0.02). There were also significant increases in neural complexity (5 ± 3%, p = 0.03).

Study published: 2020-10-27

Intensive rehabilitation enhances motor function

Significant improvement in gross motor function as measured by GMFM-66, with younger children showing greater benefits. Average step counts increased significantly during the intervention.

Study published: 2021-07-23

The study suggests potential cortical and behavioral targets for treating fatigue in individuals with perinatal stroke.

Identifying associations between fatigue and functional connectivity may lead to improved treatment strategies for fatigue in youth with perinatal stroke.

Study published: 2022-03-13

Stochastic resonance stimulation improves balance control in individuals with cerebral palsy.

Participants showed significant improvements in responses to visual perturbations and reduced whole-body sway when receiving SR stimulation, indicating enhanced balance control.

Study published: 2024-02-08

Crawling training boosts motor skills

Infants in the Crawli group showed significantly higher scores in gross motor development and specific motor skills compared to control groups. The intervention facilitated the acquisition of mature crawling and positively influenced general development as measured by the Ages and Stages Questionnaires-3 (ASQ-3).

Study published: 2023-03-29

Tibial and femoral osteotomies improve foot alignment in children with cerebral palsy

The study found that the TDO and FDO models accurately predicted follow-up foot progression deviations, with TDO showing significant heterogeneity in treatment effects based on baseline foot progression and tibial torsion. The results suggest that these surgical interventions can lead to improved foot alignment and potentially better functional outcomes for children with CP.

Study published: 2021-03-08

Short-burst interval treadmill training improves step length in children with cerebral palsy

Participants experienced a significant increase in step length by 26 ± 13% after the intervention. Three out of four participants showed a direct increase in step length, while one participant had a decrease. The BART model demonstrated good predictive accuracy for step length progression and plateaus in progression.

Study published: 2023-12-21

Tele-training improves health in cerebral palsy

Both exercise programs led to significant reductions in waist circumference and blood pressure. The Zoom group showed improved aerobic capacity, while the gym group demonstrated superior strength gains. The control group experienced negative health outcomes, including increased BMI and waist circumference.

Study published: 2024-03-20

The National PReCePT Programme increases magnesium sulphate use to reduce cerebral palsy in very preterm infants.

The implementation of the NPP resulted in a 6.3 percentage point increase in MgSO uptake, reaching 83.1% post-implementation. The program was also found to be cost-effective, generating a net monetary benefit of £866 per preterm baby.

Study published: 2022-05-23

Medical cannabinoids reduce pain and spasticity in children with cerebral palsy.

Half of the physicians evaluated the effect of medical cannabinoids as moderate, indicating some level of efficacy in managing symptoms associated with CP.

Study published: 2021-11-21

Communication Brain-Computer Interfaces enhance communication for children with quadriplegic cerebral palsy.

The study indicates a strong interest among parents and healthcare professionals in cBCIs for children with severe CP, suggesting that these devices could significantly enhance communication capabilities for this population.

Study published: 2024-05-23

Perinatal stroke leads to epilepsy

Children with neonatal seizures often respond well to antiepileptic treatment. Those with early-onset seizures and recurrent seizures tend to have better treatment responses. Participation in life activities is usually age-appropriate for most children, despite their neurological challenges.

Study published: 2021-10-01

Intrathecal Nicardipine reduces DCI

Treatment with intrathecal nicardipine was associated with a reduced odds ratio for developing DCI (0.61) and improved functional outcomes (mRS ≤ 2) with an odds ratio of 2.17 compared to controls.

Study published: 2020-10-22