Virtual hand and arm assessments for children with cerebral palsy
Virtual Hand-Arm Assessments for Children With Cerebral Palsy: Helping Us to Achieve Equity in Rehabilitation Care and Research
This project will see if video visits can measure hand and arm function for children aged 6–17 with cerebral palsy so families can get assessments from home.
Quick facts
| Study type | Observational |
|---|---|
| Enrollment | 100 (estimated) |
| Ages | 6 Years to 17 Years |
| Sex | All |
| Sponsor | Holland Bloorview Kids Rehabilitation Hospital Academic / other |
| Locations | 3 sites (Ajax, Ontario and 2 other locations) |
| Trial ID | NCT07383753 on ClinicalTrials.gov |
What this trial studies
This observational study compares virtual and in-person upper-limb assessments to determine whether standardized tests, goal-based evaluations, and naturalistic observations can be administered reliably by video. Participants are children with cerebral palsy aged 6–17 (MACS I–III) who can sit for about 30 minutes and have a caregiver and home internet/device for video conferencing. Children with recent botulinum toxin, constraint therapy, or upper-limb surgery are excluded to ensure stability of function during measurement. The study is conducted across three Ontario pediatric rehabilitation centers and will collect feasibility, agreement, and family-preference data.
Who should consider this trial
Good fit: Children aged 6–17 with a diagnosis of cerebral palsy, MACS levels I–III, able to sit for 30 minutes, without recent upper-limb surgery or active treatments, with a caregiver who can participate and home internet/device access.
Not a fit: Children with MACS IV–V, major cognitive or visual impairments that prevent 30-minute video cooperation, recent botulinum toxin/constraint therapy or upper-limb surgery, or without a suitable device/internet are unlikely to benefit from this virtual assessment approach.
Why it matters
Potential benefit: If successful, this could let many families get reliable hand and arm assessments remotely, reducing travel burden and improving access to therapy and research.
How similar studies have performed: Tele-rehabilitation for pediatric CP has shown feasibility in prior work, but comprehensive virtual standardized hand–arm assessment methods remain largely unvalidated and this approach is relatively novel.
Eligibility criteria
Show full inclusion / exclusion criteria
Inclusion Criteria: * Have a diagnosis of Cerebral Palsy * Are between 6 to 17 years old with sufficient cognitive capacity and cooperation to sit without a break for 30 minutes at a time * MACS levels I (handles objects easily) to III (handles objects with difficulty) * No visual limitations that would interfere with video conferencing * Has a caregiver willing to participate and can questions about preferences * Have an appropriate device and internet access for video conferencing Exclusion Criteria: \- Active treatments (e.g. Botulinum Toxin injections or constraint therapy in the last two months, or upper extremity surgery in the last 6 months) that might impact upper limb function stability over the study period.
Where this trial is running
Ajax, Ontario and 2 other locations
- Grandview Kids — Ajax, Ontario, Canada (Recruiting)
- Children's Hospital of Eastern Ontario — Ottawa, Ontario, Canada (Recruiting)
- Holland Bloorview Kids Rehabilitation Hospital — Toronto, Ontario, Canada (Recruiting)
Study contacts
- Principal investigator: Elaine Biddiss, PhD — Holland Bloorview Kids Rehabilitation Hospital, Bloorview Research Institute
- Study coordinator: Selvi Sert, MEng
- Email: ssert@hollandbloorview.ca
- Phone: 416-425-6220
How to participate
- Review the eligibility criteria above with your treating physician.
- Visit the official trial page on ClinicalTrials.gov for the most current contact information and recruitment status.
- Contact the listed study coordinator or principal investigator to request pre-screening. Pre-screening is free and never obligates you to enroll.