Improving Neck Control in Children With Cerebral Palsy Using Robotics

NCT ID: NCT06533293

Last Updated: 2025-09-09

Study Results

Results pending

The study team has not published outcome measurements, participant flow, or safety data for this trial yet. Check back later for updates.

Basic Information

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Recruitment Status

RECRUITING

Clinical Phase

NA

Total Enrollment

30 participants

Study Classification

INTERVENTIONAL

Study Start Date

2025-03-06

Study Completion Date

2026-12-30

Brief Summary

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The goal of this study is to characterize the head-neck motion of children with cerebral palsy and investigate how robotics can be used to improve the head-neck coordination of these children.

Aim 1 is a cross-sectional study. In this single-session, kinematic and muscle activity data will be collected during the postural static, active-proactive, and reactive postural head tasks. Gross Motor Functional Classification System (GMFCS) levels will also be collected to categorize the sample into subgroups.

Aim 2 is a prospective cohort quasi-experimental study. The data will be collected at baseline, across 12 intervention sessions, 1 week post-intervention, and 3 months follow-up.

Functional assessments will be used to compare across the pre, mid, and post training. Participants will be assessed in Gross Motor Functional Measures (GMFM), Seated Posture and Reaching Control (SP\&R-co), and Canadian Occupational and Performance Measure (COPM). The primary outcomes will be SP\&R-co test and COPM pre- and post-intervention.

Detailed Description

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The study investigators plan to recruit a sample of 30 children and adults (10 able-bodied children/young adults for the characterization phase and 20 children/young adults with bilateral cerebral palsy: 10 classified as GMFCS IV and 10 classified as GMFCS V). These participants will be aged 11-21 years.

A motion capture/body mounted sensors and Electromyography (EMG) system will be used for measurement. This study will utilize specialized robotics that can apply gentle forces on the head-neck during movement training using the principles of motor learning.

Conditions

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Cerebral Palsy Neck Disorder

Study Design

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Allocation Method

NA

Intervention Model

SINGLE_GROUP

Primary Study Purpose

TREATMENT

Blinding Strategy

NONE

This is an exploratory study.

Study Groups

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Device

Motor learning principles will be combined with robotics to apply gentle forces on the head-neck during training.

Group Type EXPERIMENTAL

Neck Brace Device

Intervention Type DEVICE

The neck brace device will be manufactured in the Mechanical Department at Columbia University. The device measures head motion and EMG by electronic sensors, passively supports the head in certain configurations by springs, and actively assists head movement by motors.

Motor learning principles will be combined with robotics to apply gentle forces on the head-neck during training.

Interventions

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Neck Brace Device

The neck brace device will be manufactured in the Mechanical Department at Columbia University. The device measures head motion and EMG by electronic sensors, passively supports the head in certain configurations by springs, and actively assists head movement by motors.

Motor learning principles will be combined with robotics to apply gentle forces on the head-neck during training.

Intervention Type DEVICE

Eligibility Criteria

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Inclusion Criteria

* CP, as medical diagnosis
* GMFCS IV-V classification

Exclusion Criteria

* severe cognitive deficits
* uncontrolled epilepsy
* severe dyskinesia
* spinal cord malformations
* severe vertebral column deformities (scoliosis \>40° and/or kyphosis \>45º)
* blindness
* chemo-denervation 3 months before study
Minimum Eligible Age

11 Years

Maximum Eligible Age

21 Years

Eligible Sex

ALL

Accepts Healthy Volunteers

Yes

Sponsors

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New York Medical College

OTHER

Sponsor Role collaborator

Columbia University

OTHER

Sponsor Role lead

Responsible Party

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Sunil Agrawal

Professor

Responsibility Role PRINCIPAL_INVESTIGATOR

Principal Investigators

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Sunil Agrawal

Role: PRINCIPAL_INVESTIGATOR

Columbia University

Locations

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ROAR Lab, Mudd Hall

New York, New York, United States

Site Status RECRUITING

Columbia University Irving Medical Center

New York, New York, United States

Site Status NOT_YET_RECRUITING

Countries

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United States

Central Contacts

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Sunil K Agrawal, PhD

Role: CONTACT

2128542841

Victor Santamaria

Role: CONTACT

Facility Contacts

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Sunil Agrawal, PhD

Role: primary

212-854-2841

Sunil Agrawal

Role: primary

212-854-2841

Related Links

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Other Identifiers

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AAAV1209

Identifier Type: -

Identifier Source: org_study_id

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