Play-based rehabilitation for children with cerebral palsy

Italian Cp eArly REhabilitation (iCARE)

IRCCS Eugenio Medea · NCT06737471

This study is testing whether different schedules of play-based rehabilitation can help children with cerebral palsy improve their skills and overall well-being.

Quick facts

Study typeObservational
Enrollment96 (estimated)
Ages36 Months to 5 Years
SexAll
SponsorIRCCS Eugenio Medea (other)
Locations6 sites (Como, Como and 5 other locations)
Trial IDNCT06737471 on ClinicalTrials.gov

What this trial studies

This study investigates the effectiveness of play-based rehabilitation delivered as usual care for children with cerebral palsy. It compares two formats of rehabilitation: intensive care, which consists of three daily sessions for five days a week over three weeks, and extensive care, which includes three sessions per week for 15 weeks. The aim is to determine if the delivery format impacts the rehabilitation outcomes in this population. The study is conducted in rehabilitation centers that provide both intensive and extensive care.

Who should consider this trial

Good fit: Ideal candidates are children aged between 6 months and 5 years diagnosed with cerebral palsy due to various neurological conditions.

Not a fit: Patients with profound deafness, severe visual impairments, neurodegenerative diseases, acquired brain injuries, or brain tumors may not benefit from this study.

Why it matters

Potential benefit: If successful, this study could enhance rehabilitation strategies for children with cerebral palsy, potentially improving their motor and cognitive outcomes.

How similar studies have performed: While few studies have examined the efficacy of rehabilitation in this population, the approach of comparing intensive and extensive care formats is relatively novel.

Eligibility criteria

Show full inclusion / exclusion criteria
Inclusion Criteria:

* age between 6 months (corrected age in case of prematurity) and 5 years;
* a diagnosis of cerebral palsy due to perinatal suffering, neurological syndromes, rare diseases with neurological impairment or congenital diseases of unknown nature.

Exclusion Criteria:

* profound deafness and/or severe hypovisus/blindness;
* a diagnosis of neurodegenerative diseases, acquired brain injury or brain tumor.

Where this trial is running

Como, Como and 5 other locations

Study contacts

How to participate

  1. Review the eligibility criteria above with your treating physician.
  2. Visit the official trial page on ClinicalTrials.gov for the most current contact information and recruitment status.
  3. Contact the listed study coordinator or principal investigator to request pre-screening. Pre-screening is free and never obligates you to enroll.

View on ClinicalTrials.gov →

Conditions: Cerebral Palsy, cerebral-palsy, children, pediatric, intervention, rehabilitation, motor, cognitive

Last reviewed 2026-05-15 by the Find a Trial editorial team. Information on this page is for educational purposes and is not medical advice. Always consult qualified healthcare professionals about clinical trial participation.