Lycra suit and balance in children/youth with ABI
Research type
Research Study
Full title
Is there an immediate benefit of lycra suits on balance in a group of children and youth with acquired brain injury?
IRAS ID
182853
Contact name
Lorna Wales
Contact email
Sponsor organisation
Wellcome Trust Sanger institute
Duration of Study in the UK
2 years, 0 months, 2 days
Research summary
The use of Lycra suit for children with acquired brain injury (ABI) with neuromotor deficits during their rehabilitation has increasingly become part of routine clinical practice at The Children's Trust in the past 10 years. Functional improvements have been observed, but there is lack of evidence and research in this area.
This study has the aim to show some evidence that lycra suit produce an immediate positive improvement in standing balance on children with Brain Injury. This study will analyse the immediate effect of lycra on standing balance in children with brain injury by assessing the children using posturography (standing on a balance plate which analyses perturbation of balance). Tests will be performed in 2 days, on the day of first fitting of lycra suit and following day, being tested with and without the lycra including some extra tests to measure balance and function (modified Functional Reach test, time of independent standing, the Standing section of GMFM to measure function, COPM (Canadian Occupational Performance Measure) questionnaire and the DASH (Detailed Assessment of Speed and Handwriting)subtest.
The children and youth will be recruited from those accessing a residential programme at The Children's Trust. They will have a brain injury as a result of an accident, illness or tumour, and they will be in rehabilitation programme for approximately 6 months. They will have an ability to stand for at least 10 seconds independently, they may have some cognitive and communication difficulties, but will have sufficient ability to fully engage in therapy sessions.
The study will be a case study series and will take two years to collect data on 20 children and youth. Each participant will be involved for two days only whilst the assessments take place. The assessments will be carried out at The Children's Trust in Tadworth (where the participants reside) and at London Orthotics Consultancy in Kingston.REC name
London - Surrey Research Ethics Committee
REC reference
15/LO/1403
Date of REC Opinion
3 Nov 2015
REC opinion
Further Information Favourable Opinion