Twenty weeks of home-based interactive training of children with cerebral palsy improves functional abilities

Abstract

Background: Home-based training is becoming ever more important with increasing demands on the public health systems. We investigated whether individualized and supervised interactive home-based training delivered through the internet improves functional abilities in children with cerebral palsy (CP). Methods: Thirty four children with CP (aged 9-16; mean age 10.9 ± 2.4 years) (GMFCS I-II; MACS I-II) were included in this non-randomized controlled clinical training study. 12 children (aged 7-16; mean age: 11.3+/−0.9 years) were allocated to a control group in which measurements were performed with 20 weeks interval without any intervening training. Daily activities, functional abilities of upper-and lower limbs, and balance were evaluated before, immediately after training and 12 weeks after training. The training consisted of 30 min daily home-based training for 20 weeks delivered through the internet.

A randomized controlled trial of web‐based training to increase activity in children with cerebral palsy

“…Move it to improve it (Mitii; Mitii Development A/S, Copenhagen, Denmark) is a web‐based therapy program that combines upper‐limb, visual–perceptual, and lower‐limb strength training using a game‐like design delivered in the client's home. The feasibility of the program has been confirmed in a non‐randomized study ( n =34), with participants demonstrating significant gains in functional strength …”

Randomized controlled trial of web-based multimodal therapy for children with acquired brain injury to improve gross motor capacity and performance

“…It remains unclear whether children with traumatic brain injury, non-traumatic brain injury or stroke respond differently to Mitii TM and how this compares to similar studies investigating the effectiveness of Mitii TM in children with unilateral cerebral palsy. 10,11…”

“…10 A smaller non-randomized study of children aged 9 to 16 years ( n = 34) with cerebral palsy demonstrated that Mitii TM improved in functional strength tests for the lower limb ( p < 0.05) compared with an age-matched control group ( n = 12). 11…”

“…10 A smaller non-randomized study of children aged 9 to 16 years (n = 34) with cerebral palsy demonstrated that Mitii TM improved in functional strength tests for the lower limb (p < 0.05) compared with an age-matched control group (n = 12). 11 The aim of this current randomized controlled trial was to examine the effects of Mitii™ on gross motor capacity and performance in ambulant children aged 8 to 16 years with an acquired brain injury. 12 The primary hypothesis was that Mitii TM would increase repetitions on the functional strengths tests of the lower limb compared with usual care.…”

A randomised controlled trial of a web-based multi-modal therapy program to improve executive functioning in children and adolescents with acquired brain injury

“…The feasibility of the program has been demonstrated in a small non-randomised pilot study of children aged 9-13 years with Unilateral Cerebral Palsy. 13 It has not been evaluated in the paediatric acquired brain injury population. There is potential value of implementing this rehabilitation intervention in children and adolescents with an acquired brain injury who also experience cognitive, perceptual, and motor difficulties.…”