Using mobile games to measure arm movement in children with cerebral palsy
Official title: Game-based Mobile-Health Quantification of Upper-Limb Motor Performance in Children with Hemiparetic Cerebral Palsy
Funded at Marquette University · NIH-10989211 · Data updated 2026-11-12
This study is creating a fun mobile app with games to help measure how well kids with hemiparetic cerebral palsy can move their arms, making it easier to track their progress in everyday settings.
Quick facts
| Grant type | R21 grant |
|---|---|
| Study type | NIH-funded research |
| Funding institution | Marquette University NIH-funded |
| Lab location | 1 site (Milwaukee, United States) |
| Project start | August 1, 2024 |
| Project end | July 31, 2026 |
| Funding year | 2024 |
| Award (this year) | $206,128 |
| NIH project number | 1R21HD114094-01A1 |
| Project ID | NIH-10989211 on NIH RePORTER |
Who could benefit from this research
✓Could help
Ideal candidates for this research are children aged 0-11 years diagnosed with hemiparetic cerebral palsy.
✕Less likely to help
Children with other types of cerebral palsy or those without motor impairments may not benefit from this research.
What this research studies
This research aims to develop and validate a mobile health application that uses interactive games to assess upper limb motor performance in children with hemiparetic cerebral palsy. By utilizing common devices like iPads, the study seeks to provide objective measurements of movement that can be conducted in various environments, rather than relying solely on traditional clinical assessments. The project will involve children with hemiparetic cerebral palsy and typically developing peers, who will participate in laboratory sessions to play movement games designed to quantify their motor skills. The findings will help inform treatment planning and improve understanding of motor impairments.
Why it matters
Potential benefit: If successful, this research could lead to more accurate and accessible assessments of motor performance in children with cerebral palsy, ultimately improving their treatment and quality of life.
How similar studies have gone: Previous research has shown promise in using mobile health technologies for similar assessments, indicating a potential for success in this novel approach.
Where this research is happening
-
Marquette University
Milwaukee, United States Active
Researchers
- Principal investigator: Nemanich, Samuel Thomas — Marquette University
- Study coordinator: Nemanich, Samuel Thomas
Related research
Other NIH-funded projects on the same topics.
-
Measuring how kids with cerebral palsy adapt their walking
A study to understand how children with cerebral palsy learn and adjust walking, and how personalized feedback during walking might improve their mobility.
-
Precise measure of how CP affects movement to guide treatment
Aims to create precise, child-friendly ways to measure selective motor control in cerebral palsy so treatment can be tailored to each child.
-
Non-invasive spinal stimulation to help kids with cerebral palsy move and reduce stiffness
This study tests a non-invasive spinal stimulation plus treadmill training to reduce spasticity and improve walking in children with cerebral palsy.
-
Physiologic marker to predict cerebral palsy early in high-risk babies
Aims to create an early, easy screen using NICU vital signs to flag infants at higher risk for cerebral palsy so families can get timely follow-up.
-
Post-surgical foot deformities in adults with cerebral palsy: understanding long-term function
This research looks at how hindfoot problems in adults with cerebral palsy behave over time after childhood surgeries and what factors influence their lasting function.
-
Dynamic Brain Imaging of Cerebral Palsy Gait
This project uses advanced brain and spinal imaging to understand how cerebral palsy affects the way young people plan and control their leg movements during walking.
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.