A fun home program using ride-on toys to help children with hemiplegia improve their arm function.
Official title: A novel, child-friendly, home-based navigation training program using joystick-operated ride-on-toys to improve upper extremity function in children with hemiplegia: A pilot study
Funded at University of Connecticut Storrs · NIH-10888647 · Data updated 2026-11-12
This study is testing a fun home program that helps kids with hemiplegia improve their arm and hand skills by using joystick-controlled ride-on toys, making it easy for families to join in and practice together.
Quick facts
| Grant type | R21 grant |
|---|---|
| Study type | NIH-funded research |
| Funding institution | University of Connecticut Storrs NIH-funded |
| Lab location | 1 site (Storrs-Mansfield, United States) |
| Project start | August 1, 2024 |
| Project end | July 31, 2026 |
| Funding year | 2024 |
| Award (this year) | $241,500 |
| NIH project number | 1R21HD109605-01A1 |
| Project ID | NIH-10888647 on NIH RePORTER |
Who could benefit from this research
✓Could help
Ideal candidates for this research are children aged 3 to 8 years diagnosed with hemiplegia.
✕Less likely to help
Patients who do not have hemiplegia or are older than 8 years may not benefit from this research.
What this research studies
This research investigates a home-based navigation training program designed for children with hemiplegia, using joystick-operated ride-on toys. The program aims to enhance upper extremity function by providing enjoyable and engaging activities that families can easily implement at home. By increasing the amount of practice time beyond traditional therapy sessions, the program seeks to address the service gap in rehabilitation for these children. The study will involve 30 children aged 3 to 8 years, who will participate in either the toy-based training or a control group.
Why it matters
Potential benefit: If successful, this research could significantly improve the arm function and overall quality of life for children with hemiplegia.
How similar studies have gone: Similar approaches using play-based interventions have shown promise in improving motor function in children with disabilities, indicating potential success for this novel program.
Where this research is happening
-
University of Connecticut Storrs
Storrs-Mansfield, United States Active
Researchers
- Principal investigator: Srinivasan, Sudha M — University of Connecticut Storrs
- Study coordinator: Srinivasan, Sudha M
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About this research
- This is an active NIH-funded research project — typically early-stage science, not a clinical trial accepting patient enrollment.
- Some NIH-funded labs run parallel clinical studies or seek volunteers for related work. To check, contact the principal investigator or institution listed above.
- For full project details, budget, and progress reports, visit the official NIH RePORTER page.