N/A N=15 Treatment

Use of Joystick-operated Ride-on-toys to Improve Affected Arm Use and Function in Children With Hemiplegic Cerebral Palsy

Hemiplegic Cerebral Palsy

Bottom Line

View on ClinicalTrials.gov: NCT05559320 ↗

Enrolled (actual)

Serious AEs

0.0%

Results posted

Jun 2025

Primary outcome: Primary: Change in Affected Arm Movement Control — 74.9; 78.3; 83.8 percentage

Study Design & Population

Study type: Interventional
Phase: N/A
Interventions: Ride-on-toy navigation training (Device); Upper extremity functional training (Behavioral)
Age: Pediatric · 3+ yrs
Sex: All
Sponsor: University of Connecticut
Primary completion: May 2024

Outcome Measures

Outcome	Result	p-value
PRIMARY Change in Affected Arm Movement Control	74.9; 78.3; 83.8	—
PRIMARY Changes in Use of Affected Arm in Functional Activities	52.3; 53.3; 60.7	—
PRIMARY Changes in Habitual Arm Activity on the Affected Side	48.4; 50.9; 50.4	—
PRIMARY Changes in Kinematic Measures of Movement Control on the Affected Arm	113.69; 123.93; 112.68; 132.59; 58.72; 69.78	—
PRIMARY Treatment Satisfaction	3.7; 3.9	—
PRIMARY Perceived Satisfaction With Intervention	12; 15	—
PRIMARY Ease of Implementation of Training	14; 9	—
PRIMARY Changes in Treatment Fidelity Across Training Weeks	95.1; 96.1; 95.6	—
PRIMARY Changes in Toy Use (in Minutes/Week) Across Training Weeks	34.3; 41.5; 44.2; 40.4; 38.5; 60.4	—
PRIMARY # of Training Sessions Completed Assessed Using Training Logs	98.33	—
SECONDARY Changes in Parent-rated Scores on Functional Use of the Affected Arm	0.1; 0.5; 1.2	—
SECONDARY Changes in Amount of Trainer Assistance Needed During Navigation	73.4; 88.7; 95.4	—
SECONDARY Changes in Child Attention During Training Sessions	80.7; 83.9; 83.4	—
SECONDARY Changes in Child Affect Across Training Sessions	98.1; 99.3; 98.9	—
SECONDARY Changes in the Duration of Movement Bouts During Navigation Across Testing Sessions	31.2; 27.7; 14.8	—
SECONDARY Changes in Rates of Obstacle Contacts Across Testing Sessions	1.4; 1.8; 0.5	—
SECONDARY Changes in Rates of Path Deviations Across Testing Sessions	2.2; 2.0; 1.2	—

Summary

This research is being done to explore if modified, commercially available, joystick-operated, ride-on-cars can be used to promote bilateral arm function in children with hemiplegic Cerebral Palsy (CP). Specifically, the study evaluates the effects of a 6-week, home-based, child-friendly, innovative program that uses modified, commercially available, joystick-operated, powered ride-on-toys to promote spontaneous affected arm use and function in children with hemiplegic CP.

Eligibility Criteria

Inclusion Criteria

Are boys or girls between the ages of 3 - 8 years
Have been diagnosed with hemiplegic Cerebral palsy by a medical doctor with clear asymmetry in upper extremity strength and control, i.e., one upper limb is clearly weaker than the other;
Have had no physical trauma (including surgery) in the past 6 months;
Demonstrate awareness of objects in their environment through their visual system;
Can use their upper extremity or trunk to activate a joystick placed within reachable distance;
Can maintain a supported sitting position for at least 20 minutes

Exclusion Criteria

Have only lower limb involvement
Are capable of using both hands together very well for functional activities;
Age >8 years or below 3 years of age
Exceed safe weight or height limits of the device;
Have parents who know at the time of the initial contact that they will not be able to complete training and all the posttest sessions

View full record on ClinicalTrials.gov →

Data sourced from ClinicalTrials.gov (NCT05559320). Outcome figures and adverse-event rates are extracted automatically from the registry's posted results and are provided for clinician reference, not as a substitute for the primary publication.