How can Lycra Sleeve improve upper limb functioning in hemiplegic CP?
Research type
Research Study
Full title
How can Soft Dynamic Pressure Orthoses (Lycra) influence upper limb function in children with spastic hemiplegic cerebral palsy?
IRAS ID
246566
Contact name
Anand Pandyan
Contact email
Sponsor organisation
Keele University
ISRCTN Number
ISRCTN67208261
Duration of Study in the UK
1 years, 1 months, 14 days
Research summary
Cerebral palsy (CP) occurs as a result of damage to the developing brain and the symptoms in any individual is affected by the location, time and size of the brain damage. In this study, we will focus on children who have hemiplegia (i.e. brain damage affecting one side of the body) as a result of CP. Children with hemiplegia will have a combination of paralysis and spasticity (a condition where some muscle are overactive). In addition, sensations can also be affected (i.e. this either be increased or decreased) making them unable to feel things or tell what things are by using touch. Besides touch, their ability to describe the position of their body in space is also affected. As a result of these problems, the child will not be able to control body movement effectively and efficiently. Normal development can also be affected.
Children with CP receive different types of treatments (e.g. medical, surgical, rehabilitation, and orthotics) to help with improving motor control and improve their independence. One of the orthotics that are being used with children is pressure garments or Lycra garments. However, there is little scientific understanding related to the true therapeutic effects of pressure garments because studies are limited in number and the quality of existing research is weak.
This research project aims to investigate the effect of using a pressure garment on upper limb sensation, the ability to move and factors that can interfere with functional movements. This study will be conducted in a specialist hospital that provides this treatment routinely. We propose to recruit 35 participants with hemiplegic CP, between ages 5 and 16 years, who will normally require this treatment and we will take a range of repeated non-invasive measurements that will help us quantify the therapeutic effects.REC name
West Midlands - Coventry & Warwickshire Research Ethics Committee
REC reference
19/WM/0122
Date of REC Opinion
16 May 2019
REC opinion
Further Information Favourable Opinion