Improving motor function in children with cerebral palsy

Transcranial direct current stimulation to improve motor function in children with cerebral palsy: A pilot study

Cerebral Palsy is the most common cause of childhood physical disability. Many children with cerebral palsy experience lifelong difficulties with their movement, affecting their ability to engage with daily activities. Transcranial Direct Current Stimulation (tDCS) is a safe, painless and non-invasive type of brain stimulation. It has the potential to increase the ability of the brain to adapt, and could be effective at improving movement and function when combined with therapy. However, no one has combined tDCS with therapy involving both the arm and the leg, even though many people with CP experience difficulties with both of these limbs.

This study aims to assess whether ten sessions of tDCS over two weeks could be effective at improving movement and function when combined with therapy tasks for the arm and leg that are repetitive, functional and relevant. Specifically, we aim to assess how large the potential improvement in function is in order to plan future large-scale clinical trials and use brain scanning to explore who is most likely to benefit from the tDCS.

This project is exploring a potential new area of therapeutics in the treatment of cerebral palsy which may lead to some improvement in movement and motor function in Young People with Cerebral Palsy. With further research this intervention may provide a new clinical treatment pathway in the future.