Using Power Mobility Training to Promote Arm & Hand Function in Children With Cerebral Palsy
Key facts
- Who runs it
- Grand Valley State University
- Where
- Grand Rapids, United StatesSee the site
- Trial code
- Status
- Not yet recruiting
- People taking part
- 10 people, planned
- Starts
- 19 Jan 2028
- Expected to end
- 31 Dec 2029
- Type of study
- Interventional
- Treatments tested
- Arm- and hand-use focused power mobility training
- Record updated
- 11 September 2026
Who can take part
- Age
- 3 years to 8 years
- Sex
- Women and men
- Healthy volunteers
- Cannot take part
The registry criteria, word for word
Show all 10 criteriaShow less
Who can take part
- Diagnosis of cerebral palsy
- Demonstrates significantly less functional use of one arm and hand
- Can get on and off the a ride-on toy with minimal assistance from the researchers
- Can maintain a sitting position on the a ride-on toy
- Has sufficient functional vision to safely maneuver the a ride-on toy
- Has their own bicycle helmet that fits them well and is in good working condition
Who cannot take part
- Hand or arm surgery within the past 6 months
- Their weight exceeds device limits (more than 120 pounds)
- They do not demonstrate sufficient balance and control in sitting to safely use the ride-on toy
- If they cannot safely participate in arm- and hand-use focused power mobility training activities
Check if you might fit
Answer for yourself. This is not a decision: only the study team can say whether you can take part.
- Are you between 3 and 8 years old?
Where in United States
- Grand Valley State UniversityGrand Rapids, United StatesContact: Lisa K. Kenyon, PT, DPT, PhD, PCSNo longer taking part
About the trial
What the trial wants to find out
Approximately 40% of children with ambulatory cerebral palsy have significant functional asymmetries in arm and hand function. Children with these significant functional asymmetries have difficulties using their more-affected (less preferred) arm and hand in daily activities, especially true in daily activities requiring bilateral hand and arm use. Recent research suggests that power mobility training provided via a ride-on toy may help to motivate these children to use their less preferred arm and hand. This research further notes that participation in power mobility training designed to encourage a child to use their less preferred arm and hand also may help to improve their arm and hand function and use in their daily activities. This exploratory study seeks to explore an innovative intervention using arm- and hand-use focused power mobility training activities, encompassing both navigational/maneuvering activities and embedded play-based reaching and grasping activities. During power mobility training activities, children will be asked to wear a soft mitten or sock on their preferred hand to help them remember to use their less preferred hand and arm.
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The purpose of this exploratory study is to examine both the effect and feasibility of a 6-week laboratory-based arm-and hand-use focused power mobility training program.
The group in the trial
- Arm- and hand-use focused power mobility training groupTreatment being tested
These arm- and hand-use focused power mobility training activities will be provided via a ride-on toy and will encompass both navigational/maneuvering activities and play-based reaching and grasping activities embedded into the navigational/maneuvering activities. During power mobility training activities, children will be asked to wear a soft mitten or sock on their preferred hand to help them remember to use their less preferred hand and arm.
Treatment: Arm- and hand-use focused power mobility training
Questions to ask the study team
- How often do I need to come in, and for how long each time?
- Are travel costs paid?
- Can I keep my own doctor?
- What happens if I want to stop?
Contact the study team: see the registry record → Contacts and Locations
Print a page for my doctorData and sources
- Registry record
- Listed on ClinicalTrials.gov.
- Fit questions
- Built from NCT07342348, who can take part
- Record updated
- 11 September 2026