‘UPSEE’ USE IN YOUNG CHILDREN WITH CEREBRAL PALSY. Version 1.
Research type
Research Study
Full title
Feasibility study of the ‘Upsee’ as a new community mobility device and its impact on gross motor function in young children with Cerebral Palsy (Gross Motor Function Classification System level II-IV).
IRAS ID
174631
Contact name
Caroline Mitson
Contact email
Sponsor organisation
Institute of Child Health (UCL)
Clinicaltrials.gov Identifier
Z6364106/2015/02/55, UCL Data Protection Registration Number
Duration of Study in the UK
0 years, 5 months, 1 days
Research summary
In children aged one to five years with Cerebral Palsy (CP) (Gross Motor Function Classification System (GMFCS) level II-IV), is it feasible to use the Upsee intensely over a two week period and does it impact on activity, participation and gross motor function?
Children with CP have a motor impairment that often prevents them achieving independent mobility. They often show an ability and interest in standing and stepping with parental or equipment assistance from a young age and the Upsee is a recent product available from 'Firefly' that may be helpful in providing support for mobility. Parental media support has been high for the ‘Upsee’ device but without structured research we are unable to objectively measure if parental reports of improved activity and participation in the Upsee represent a clinical benefit which could be utilised in the UK National Health Service.
A prospective cohort study will be conducted using a convenience sample of children (and one parent) under the care of Barts Health Children’s community physiotherapy team aged one to five years with CP (GMFCS II-IV). Those who meet the inclusion criteria will be invited to consent (parent and parent for child) to intensively trial the Upsee for an hour a day for two weeks in their home and community environment. Parents will be asked to keep a diary record of the number of hours, types and difficulties of use of the Upsee. Parents will be requested to complete a post-trial participant questionnaire to assess parental feedback on the practical use of the Upsee. Also to measure any impact on gross motor function, standardised assessment will be conducted pre and post Upsee trial. The principle investigator is organising this research with only additional funding from the UK distributor of the Upsee who are loaning the equipment required.REC name
South Central - Hampshire A Research Ethics Committee
REC reference
15/SC/0202
Date of REC Opinion
26 Mar 2015
REC opinion
Favourable Opinion