This study provides Class II evidence that for children with perinatal stroke and hemiparetic cerebral palsy, the addition of tDCS to moderate-dose motor learning therapy does not significantly improve motor function as measured by the AHA.

This study provides Class II evidence that combined rTMS and CIMT enhance therapy-induced functional motor gains in children with stroke-induced hemiparetic cerebral palsy.

Background: Perinatal stroke causes hemiparetic cerebral palsy. Constraint therapy (CIMT) improves function in congenital hemiparesis and adult stroke. Repetitive transcranial magnetic stimulation (rTMS) may improve function in adult stroke. The two have not been tested in perinatal stroke. Methods: PLASTIC CHAMPS (www.clinicaltrials.gov/NCT01189058) was a controlled factorial trial of rTMS and CIMT in perinatal-stroke hemiparesis. Children 6-18 years participated in a 2 week peer-supported motor learning camp, randomized to daily inhibitory rTMS (1200 stimulations, contralesional M1), CIMT, both or neither. Primary outcomes were Assisting Hand Assessment (AHA) and Canadian Occupational Performance Measure (COPM) at 1, 8, and 24 weeks. Quality-of-life, safety and tolerability were evaluated. Change was assessed across treatment groups over time (linear mixed effects model). Results: All forty-five subjects completed the trial (median 11.4yrs). COPM scores increased >100% with maximal gains at 6 months (p<0.002). Addition of rTMS and/or CIMT doubled the chances of clinically significant gains. Combined rTMS+CIMT resulted in larger AHA gains at all time points (6 months p=0.006). CIMT or rTMS alone had more modest effects. Neither treatment decreased function in either hand. Procedures were well tolerated. Conclusions: Children with hemiparesis participating in intensive, psychosocial rehabilitation programs perceive marked increases in function. Non-invasive brain stimulation may enhance motor learning therapy in perinatal stroke hemiparesis.

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AIM To explore relationships between category classifications for children's rehabilitation goals, outcomes, and participant characteristics. METHOD Children with hemiparetic cerebral palsy due to perinatal stroke rated self-selected goals with the Canadian Occupational Performance Measure (COPM) and completed the Assisting Hand Assessment (AHA) and Box and Block Test (BBT), at baseline and 6 months, in a randomized, controlled 10-day neuromodulation rehabilitation trial using repetitive transcranial magnetic stimulation. Goals were classified with the Canadian Model of Occupational Performance and Engagement and the International Classification of Functioning, Disability and Health. Analysis included standard linear regression. RESULTS Data for 45 participants (mean age 11y 7mo, SD 3y 10mo, range 6-19y, 29 males, 16 females) on 186 goals were included. Self-care goal percentage corresponded with baseline BBT by age (standardized ß=-0.561, p=0.004). Leisure goal percentage corresponded with baseline BBT (standardized ß=0.419, p=0.010). AHA change corresponded with productivity goals (standardized ß=0.327, p=0.029) and age (standardized ß=0.481, p=0.002). COPM change corresponded with baseline COPM and age by AHA change (p<0.05).

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Background: Perinatal stroke causes hemiparetic cerebral palsy. Brain stimulation may enhance motor function in adult stroke. We demonstrated that rTMS enhances motor learning therapy in children with perinatal stroke. Transcranial direct current stimulation (tDCS) may have similar capacity but is unstudied. Hypothesis: tDCS increases motor function in hemiparetic children undergoing 2 weeks of motor learning therapy. Methods: Randomized, controlled, double blind clinical trial. Subjects were recruited from a population-based cohort with MRI-classified unilateral perinatal stroke, age 6-18 years, and disabling hemiparesis. All completed a goal-directed, peer-supported, 2 week “after school” motor learning camp (32 hours of therapy). Subjects were randomized 1:1 to 1mA cathodal tDCS over the contralesional primary motor cortex for the initial 20 minutes of daily therapy or sham. Primary subjective (Canadian Occupational Performance Measure, COPM), objective (Assisting Hand Assessment, AHA), safety, and secondary outcomes were measured at 1 week and 2 months. Analysis was intention-to-treat. Results: Twenty-four subjects were randomized (median 11.8+/-2.7 years, range 6.7-17.8). COPM performance and satisfaction scores more than doubled at 1 week with sustained gains at 2 months (p<0.001). Both COPM scores increased more with tDCS compared to sham (p=0.004). AHA scores demonstrated only mild increases at both time points with no tDCS effects. Procedures were safe and well tolerated with no decrease in either arm function or serious adverse events. Conclusion: tDCS trials appear feasible and safe in hemiparetic children. Lack of change in objective motor function may reflect under-dosing of therapy and/or modest sample size. Greater gains in subjective function with tDCS warrant further study.