Combining taVNS with early CIMT to improve health outcomes of infants

Date Added
May 4th, 2021
PRO Number
Pro00109558
Researcher
Dorothea Jenkins

List of Studies


Keywords
Brain, Infant, Movement Disorders, Physical Therapy, Stroke Recovery
Summary

Newborns who are born premature or suffer brain injury at birth are at risk for motor problems that may cause weakness in reaching and grasping on one side of the body. In older children, therapists may use a hand mitt and restraint for the stronger arm, to encourage use of the weaker side, called constraint-induced movement therapy (CIMT). Even with the high intensity therapy of CIMT, it typically takes between 40-120 hours total treatment time for most children to improve their motor skills. A non-invasive form of nerve stimulation, transcutaneous auricular vagus nerve stimulation (taVNS), stimulates a nerve by the ear that enhances learning motor skills. The purpose of this study is to evaluate the safety and effectiveness of taVNS to improve motor skills when paired with CIMT in infants with one-sided weakness at 6-18months of age.

Institution
MUSC
Recruitment Contact
Patricia Coker-Bolt
843-792-7491
coerkpc@musc.edu

Perinatal Arterial Stroke: A Multi-site RCT of Intensive Infant Rehabilitation (I-ACQUIRE)

Date Added
August 26th, 2021
PRO Number
Pro00111341
Researcher
Cynthia Dodds

List of Studies


Keywords
Brain, Infant, Movement Disorders, Pediatrics, Physical Therapy, Rehabilitation Studies, Stroke, Stroke Recovery
Summary

Constraint-induced movement therapy (CIMT) is the most efficacious treatment for children with hemiparesis from a perinatal arterial stroke but instead, weekly low-dose OT and/or PT is typical. The aims of this study are to compare 2 high doses of treatment to usual care in helping infants improve skills on the hemiplegic hand/arm and to improve bimanual activities. In addition, the association with gross motor, language and cognition will be explored.

Institution
MUSC
Recruitment Contact
Patricia Coker-Bolt
843-792-7491
cokerpc@musc.edu



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