Clinical Trial: On Track: Monitoring Development of Children With Cerebral Palsy or Gross Motor Delay

Study Status: Active, not recruiting
Recruit Status: Active, not recruiting
Study Type: Observational

Official Title: Developmental Trajectories of Impairments, Health, and Participation of Children With Cerebral Palsy

Brief Summary:

The On Track Study is a large multi-site collaboration involving researchers, therapists, families, and children with cerebral palsy (CP) from across Canada and the United States. The researchers need to better understand how young children who have difficulties with movement activities progress and develop in their balance abilities, fitness, strength, health, range of motion, self-care, everyday play, and activity participation.

This study will determine how young children with cerebral palsy or gross motor delays progress in many aspects of their physical development and participation in daily life. The information collected from this study will help therapists and parents monitor if a child is developing as expected in his or her physical development and participation. Then, the health care professionals working with children can use the results of this study, in combination with the previously completed Move & PLAY study results, to provide the services that are most beneficial and meaningful for each child and their family members.


Detailed Summary:

Trained therapist assessors will measure the primary and secondary impairments (i.e., balance, range of motion limitations, and strength) on 5 occasions (6-months apart over 2 years). Parents will complete questionnaires to track changes in the child's endurance, health conditions, and participation in self-care and recreation activities, at the same data collection points. The researchers will use these 5 data collection points to develop reference percentiles and will present the data so that therapists can assist families to determine if children with CP are developing as expected, better than expected, or more poorly than expected, depending on their functional ability levels.

The researchers will create longitudinal developmental curves for impairments, health conditions, and participation variables by estimating the average pattern of change, important individual variations in the pattern of change between children, and the degree of consistency over time within children. Establishment of longitudinal developmental curves will provide easily understood and useful tools for families and service providers to discuss questions about how well their children are doing in relationship to other children with CP of similar functional ability levels. The researchers will then utilize service data collected from parents and children's progress on the longitudinal developmental curves to develop recommendations for rehabilitation service provision for children with CP across functional ability levels. Having this information should assist with collaborative decision-making among family members and service providers that efficiently utilizes rehabilitation services to meet families' goals.

An additional sub-study is to collect direct physical activity measurements from a sub-set of the children in the larger study. These data wi
Sponsor: University of Washington

Current Primary Outcome:

  • Early Clinical Assessment of Balance (ECAB) [ Time Frame: up to 24-months ]
    The ECAB addresses postural control and balance across the developmental sequence. Part I has 7 items: 1) lateral head righting, 2) head righting in extension, 3) head righting in flexion, 4) rotation in the trunk, 5) equilibrium reactions in sitting, 6) protective extension to the side, and 7) protective extension backwards. The items are scored on a scale of 0 = no response to 3 = complete & consistent response. Part II has 6 items: 1) sitting with back unsupported but feet supported, 2) moving from sitting to standing, 3) standing unsupported with eyes closed, 4) standing unsupported with feet together, 5) turning 360 degrees in standing unsupported, 6) placing alternate foot on the step while standing unsupported. These items are scored on a scale of 0 = cannot do to 4 = fully completes, and then weighted due to the increased difficulty of the items. Part I and Part II item scores are summed for a total score between 0-100. A higher score represents better balance.
  • Spinal Alignment and Range of Motion Measure (SAROMM) [ Time Frame: up to 24-months ]
    The SAROMM addresses joint range of motion, extensibility, and spinal alignment. The Spinal Alignment Subscale contains 4 items and the Range of Motion and Extensibility Subscale has 22 items. Each item is scored on a 5-point Likert scale, with 0 = normal alignment and range with active correction, 1 = normal alignment and range with passive correction, and 2, 3, and 4 indicating fixed deformities or contractures that are "mild", "moderate", or "severe" based on pre-specified cut points, and supported by photographs in the training manual. The Spinal Alignment Subscale Sc

    Original Primary Outcome: Same as current

    Current Secondary Outcome:

    • Gross Motor Function Classification System (GMFCS) [ Time Frame: up to 24-months ]
      The GMFCS is classification system based on functional body movement ability. GMFCS levels vary from I to V, with a level closest to I reflecting higher function. The general descriptions of a child at 6 to 12 years of age are: I: Walks without limitations; II: Walks with limitations; III: Walks using a hand-held mobility device; IV: Self-mobility with limitations; may use powered mobility; and V: Transported in manual wheelchair. Descriptors for the five levels vary by age of the child.
    • Manual Ability Classification System (MACS) [ Time Frame: up to 24-months ]
      The MACS is a classification system based on functional hand movement ability. MACS levels vary from I to V, with a level closest to I reflecting higher function. The general descriptions for each level are: I: Handles objects easily & effectively; II: Handles most objects with somewhat reduced quality and/or speed; III: Handles objects with difficulty, needs help to prepare and/or modify activities; IV: Handles a limited selection of easily managed objects; and V: Does not handle objects and has severely limited ability to perform even simple actions.
    • Communication Function Classification System (CFCS) [ Time Frame: up to 24-months ]
      The CFCS is a classification system based on functional communication ability. CFCS levels vary from I to V, with a level closest to I reflecting higher function. The general descriptions for each level are: I: Effective sender/receiver with familiar/unfamiliar partners; II: Effective but slower paced sender and/or receiver with familiar/unfamiliar partners; III: Effective sender & receiver with familiar partners; IV: Inconsistent sender and/or receiver with familiar partners; and V: Seldom effective sender & receiver with familiar partners.


    Original Secondary Outcome: Same as current

    Information By: University of Washington

    Dates:
    Date Received: November 23, 2014
    Date Started: July 2013
    Date Completion: March 2017
    Last Updated: October 25, 2016
    Last Verified: October 2016