RecruitingNot Applicable

tDCS and Bimanual Therapy for Children With Hemiplegic Cerebral Palsy

United States80 participantsStarted 2019-12-01

Plain-language summary

The goal of this study is to test the efficacy of transcranial direct current stimulation combined with bimanual training on hand function in children with unilateral spastic cerebral palsy (USCP). Children who enroll in the protocol will be randomized to receive either sham (not stimulating) tDCS plus bimanual training, or active (stimulating) tDCS plus bimanual training.

Who can participate

Age range

6 Years – 18 Years

Sex

ALL

See this in plain English?

AI-rewrites the medical criteria so a patient or caregiver can understand them. Always confirm with the trial site.

Inclusion Criteria: * Diagnosis of congenital hemiplegic cerebral palsy * Ability to lift and grasp light objects with affected hand * Ability to extend wrist of affected hand 15 degrees * Ability to follow instructions and provide informed assent * Parent(s) able to provide informed consent Exclusion Criteria: * Seizures after age 2 years * Spasticity medication within 6 months before study * Selective dorsal rhizotomy * Surgery in affected upper extremity within year before study

Questions worth asking your doctor

Bring these to your next appointment. They're a starting point for a shared conversation — not a sign you qualify or a recommendation to enrol.

1Based on my diagnosis and history, is this trial worth exploring for me — or is there a standard treatment we should try first?
2What does this trial's phase tell us about how much is already known about its safety and benefit?
3What would taking part actually involve for me — visits, tests, time, and travel?
4What are the known and possible risks or side effects I should weigh, and how would they be monitored?
5If this trial isn't the right fit, what other options or trials would you suggest I look into?

Generated to help you prepare — always confirm anything about your own eligibility and care with the study team and your doctor.

Questions for the trial coordinator

The trial coordinator is the person who runs the study day to day. These cover the practical side — logistics, costs, and what taking part would actually mean for your life. The study team confirms whether you meet the criteria; these are questions to ask, not a sign you qualify.

1What does taking part actually involve week to week — how many visits, where, and how long does each one take?
2What costs are covered by the study, and what might I have to pay for myself, including travel, parking, or time off work?
3What happens during screening, and what happens if the study team confirms I don't meet the criteria after those tests?
4Who pays for the scans, blood work, and other tests the trial requires — the study, my insurance, or me?
5How will being in the trial affect my regular care, and will my own doctor stay informed and involved?
6Can I leave the trial at any point if I change my mind, and what would happen to my care if I do?

A starting point for the conversation — always confirm anything about your own eligibility, costs, and care with the study team and your doctor.

What they're measuring

Change in Assisting Hand Assessment

Timeframe: Day before intervention begins, compared to day after intervention ends (six days after intervention begins)

Trial details

NCT IDNCT03402854

SponsorBurke Medical Research Institute

Sponsor typeOTHER

Study typeINTERVENTIONAL

Primary completion2025-06-30

Contact for this trial

Kathleen M Friel, PhD

914-368-3116 kaf3001@med.cornell.edu

View on ClinicalTrials.gov More Cerebral Palsy trials