Transcranial direct current stimulation combined with functional training of upper limbs in children with spastic hemiparetic cerebral palsy: randomized controlled double-blind clinical trial

• Grant number: 13/13767-8
• Support Opportunities: Regular Research Grants
• Start date: April 01, 2014
• End date: June 30, 2016
• Field of knowledge: Health Sciences - Physiotherapy and Occupational Therapy
• Principal Investigator: Claudia Santos Oliveira
• Grantee: Claudia Santos Oliveira
• Host Institution: Universidade Nove de Julho (UNINOVE). Campus Memorial. São Paulo , SP, Brazil
• Associated researchers: Felipe Fregni ; Luanda André Collange ; Manuela Galli ; Renata Calhes Franco de Moura

Abstract

Objective: The aim of the proposed study is to compare the effects of functional training of the upper limbs with and without transcranial direct current stimulation of the primary motor cortex on children with cerebral palsy. Materials and Methods: The sample population will consist of 34 children with spastic hemiparetic cerebral palsy aged four to 12 years and classified on levels I to III of the Manual Ability Classification System. The children will be randomly allocated to either Group 1, which will receive upper limb training with placebo transcranial stimulation, or Group 2, which will receive training of the paretic upper limb with activated transcranial stimulation. Assessments will consist of three-dimensional motion analysis and electromyography (D-SMART system 140 ® - BTS Engineering and EMG ® FREEEMG - BTS Engineering) of the upper limbs, gross motor function, quality of upper limb movement (QUEST), functional mobility and functional performance (PEDI) and degree of spasticity of the elbow, measured using a portable device and the Ashworth and Tardieu scale. Training will be carried out for two consecutive weeks, with five 30-minture training sessions per week. Transcranial stimulation will be applied over the primary motor cortex with an intensity of 1 mA during the training sessions. The results will be statistically analyzed assuming a 5% level of significance (p d 0.05). (AU)

Scientific publications

(References retrieved automatically from Web of Science and SciELO through information on FAPESP grants and their corresponding numbers as mentioned in the publications by the authors)

FRANCO MOURA, RENATA CALHES; SANTOS, CIBELE; GRECCO, LUANDA COLLANGE; ALBERTINI, GIORGIO; CIMOLIN, VERONICA; GALLI, MANUELA; OLIVEIRA, CLAUDIA. Effects of a single session of transcranial direct current stimulation on upper limb movements in children with cerebral palsy: A randomized, sham-controlled study. Developmental Neurorehabilitation, v. 20, n. 6, p. 368-375, 2017. (13/13767-8)

FRANCO MOURA, RENATA CALHES; SANTOS, CIBELE ALMEIDA; COLLANGE GRECCO, LUANDA ANDRE; LAZZARI, ROBERTA DELASTA; LOPES DUMONT, ARISLANDER JONATHAN; DE ALMEIDA DUARTE, NATALIA CARVALHO; BRAUN, LUIZ ALFREDO; PALMA LOPES, JAMILE BENITE; DOS SANTOS, LIGIA ABRAM; SOUZA RODRIGUES, ELIANE LOPES; et al. Transcranial direct current stimulation combined with upper limb functional training in children with spastic, hemiparetic cerebral palsy: study protocol for a randomized controlled trial. Trials, v. 17, AUG 17 2016. (13/13767-8)

SANTOS, CIBELE ALMEIDA; FRANCO DE MOURA, RENATA CALHES; LAZZARI, ROBERTA DELASTA; LOPES DUMONT, ARISLANDER JONATHAN; FERREIRA BRAUN, LUIZ ALFREDO; OLIVEIRA, CLAUDIA SANTOS. Upper limb function evaluation scales for individuals with cerebral palsy: a systematic review. Journal of Physical Therapy Science, v. 27, n. 5, p. 1617-1620, MAY 2015. (13/13767-8)