Magic Trick Training for Cerebral Palsy

Overseen By Kimberly Kirklin

Age: < 65

Sex: Any

Trial Phase: Phase 2

Sponsor: University of Alabama at Birmingham

Disqualifiers: Severe hearing, Visual impairments, others

No Placebo Group All trial participants will receive the active study treatment (no placebo)

Prior Safety Data This treatment has passed at least one previous human trial

Compensation: Varies

Number of Visits: 18

Duration: 6 weeks

60 Participants Needed

Trial Summary

What is the purpose of this trial?

The proposed project will attempt to confirm the benefits of a structured magic trick training program (MTTP) experience in adolescents with autism. Benefits of participating in a 6-week virtual MTTP will be evaluated using validated assessments to measure social-emotional competencies.

Will I have to stop taking my current medications?

The trial information does not specify whether you need to stop taking your current medications.

What data supports the effectiveness of the treatment Magic Trick Training for Cerebral Palsy?

Research shows that children with cerebral palsy who participated in magic-themed therapy programs experienced improvements in hand function and everyday task performance. These programs, which include magic tricks, have been found to enhance motor skills and coordination, making them a fun and effective way to support rehabilitation. ^{1 2 3 4 5}

Is Magic Trick Training safe for humans?

The research on Magic Trick Training, specifically in a magic-themed hand-arm bimanual intensive therapy (HABIT) for children with cerebral palsy, does not report any safety concerns, suggesting it is generally safe for use in humans. ^{1 2 4 6 7}

How is Magic Trick Training different from other treatments for cerebral palsy?

Magic Trick Training is unique because it uses fun and engaging magic tricks to improve hand function and everyday task performance in children with cerebral palsy, making therapy more enjoyable compared to traditional methods. This approach combines creativity with therapy, which can enhance motivation and participation in rehabilitation. ^{1 2 8 9 10}

Research Team

Hon K Yuen, PhD

Principal Investigator

University of Alabama at Birmingham

Eligibility Criteria

Adolescents aged 12-18 with unilateral cerebral palsy (UCP) who can use their affected hand and have good mental function. They need internet access for virtual training but can't join if they have severe hearing/vision issues, are in another study or therapy that affects the trial's outcomes, have learned magic before, or will start a new arm treatment.

Inclusion Criteria

Confirmed diagnosis (with proof of evidence) of UCP

I can use my affected hand for daily tasks.

Access to internet and a computer or smartphone that can perform videoconferencing

Exclusion Criteria

I have severe hearing or vision problems that stop me from learning online.

Previous participation in organized magic learning program or camp

I am not in or planning to join any psychological therapy or clinical trial that might affect this study.

Timeline

Screening

Participants are screened for eligibility to participate in the trial

2-4 weeks

Treatment

Participants engage in a 6-week virtual magic trick training program with three lessons per week

6 weeks

18 virtual sessions

Follow-up

Participants are monitored for social-emotional functioning and emotional stress 6 weeks after the program

6 weeks

Treatment Details

Interventions

• Magic Trick Training

Trial Overview The trial is testing a 6-week online magic trick training program to see if it helps teenagers with UCP use both hands better and improve social skills. Participants' progress will be measured using recognized assessments.

Participant Groups

Group I: magic trick training Experimental Treatment 1 Intervention

Participation in a 6 weekly virtual magic trick training camp with three lessons per week.

Group II: waitlist control Active Control 1 Intervention

Participation in usual daily activities.

Who Is Running the Clinical Trial?

University of Alabama at Birmingham

Lead Sponsor

Trials

1,677

Recruited

2,458,000+

Findings from Research

Incorporating magic tricks into hand therapy programs can make rehabilitation more engaging and enjoyable for patients, potentially improving their motivation and participation.

Creative therapeutic activities, like magic tricks, may help patients regain range of motion and strength in a fun way, which is essential for effective rehabilitation.

NCBI (Pubmed)

pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov

Sleight of hand: magic, therapy and motor performance. Harte, D., Spencer, K.[2014]

In a study involving 28 children with unilateral cerebral palsy, a 60-hour magic-themed hand-arm bimanual intensive therapy (HABIT) led to significant improvements in everyday task performance and unimanual hand skills, as measured by various assessments.

Parents reported enhanced bimanual hand use in daily activities, indicating that the therapy not only improved children's skills but also positively impacted their ability to perform tasks at home and in school.

NCBI (Pubmed)

pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov

Upper Limb Function of Children with Unilateral Cerebral Palsy After a Magic-Themed HABIT: A Pre-Post-Study with 3- and 6-Month Follow-Up. Hines, A., Bundy, AC., Black, D., et al.[2020]

The web-based therapy program 'Move it to improve it' (Mitii) was tested on 102 children with unilateral cerebral palsy over 20 weeks, showing significant improvements in occupational performance and visual perception compared to standard care.

While the Mitii group had better scores on several assessments, the differences were not clinically significant, indicating that while the program may enhance therapy engagement, its impact on upper limb function remains limited.

NCBI (Pubmed)

pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov

Randomized controlled trial of web-based multimodal therapy for unilateral cerebral palsy to improve occupational performance. James, S., Ziviani, J., Ware, RS., et al.[2015]

Interactive computer play (ICP) has been found to be more effective than conventional therapy in improving balance and postural control in children with mild to moderate cerebral palsy, based on a review of 20 studies.

The studies showed medium to large effect sizes for ICP interventions, but there was significant variation in study designs, indicating a need for more rigorous future research to confirm these findings, especially for children with more severe CP.

NCBI (Pubmed)

pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov

Effectiveness of interactive computer play on balance and postural control for children with cerebral palsy: A systematic review. Pin, TW.[2020]

A two-week magic camp program significantly improved hand-arm motor skills in seven children with hemiparesis, as evidenced by better scores on the Jebsen Hand Function Test immediately after the camp and at a three-month follow-up.

Participants also showed enhanced ability to perform activities using both hands, indicating that the training not only improved individual hand function but also encouraged the use of both hands in daily tasks.

NCBI (Pubmed)

pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov

Evaluation of a Magic Camp for Children with Hemiparesis: A Pilot Study. Spencer, K., Yuen, HK., Jenkins, GR., et al.[2020]

A study involving 34 children with cerebral palsy showed that individualized, supervised home-based training delivered via the internet significantly improved daily activities and upper and lower limb functions after 20 weeks of training.

The children in the training group completed an average of 17 minutes of daily exercises, leading to measurable functional improvements, while the control group showed no changes, highlighting the effectiveness of this training approach.

NCBI (Pubmed)

pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov

Twenty weeks of home-based interactive training of children with cerebral palsy improves functional abilities. Lorentzen, J., Greve, LZ., Kliim-Due, M., et al.[2018]

A 12-week home-based virtual cycling training (hVCT) program significantly improved knee muscle strength in children with spastic cerebral palsy, with notable gains in knee flexor strength compared to the control group.

While the hVCT program enhanced muscle strength, it did not lead to improvements in gross motor function as measured by the Bruininks-Oseretsky Test of Motor Proficiency.

NCBI (Pubmed)

pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov

Muscle strength enhancement following home-based virtual cycling training in ambulatory children with cerebral palsy. Chen, CL., Hong, WH., Cheng, HY., et al.[2012]

A study involving 29 children with cerebral palsy showed that virtual reality-based training (VRBT) significantly improved balance and manual ability compared to traditional rehabilitation methods, with notable improvements in the study group for participation, motivation, cooperation, and satisfaction.

This research is pioneering in exploring VRBT for postoperative rehabilitation in children with cerebral palsy, indicating its potential as an effective therapeutic tool, although further studies with larger sample sizes are needed to confirm these findings.

NCBI (Pubmed)

pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov

Virtual reality based therapy for post operative rehabilitation of children with cerebral palsy. Sharan, D., Ajeesh, PS., Rameshkumar, R., et al.[2012]

In a study of 30 children with spastic bilateral cerebral palsy, adding 8 weeks of treadmill training to routine physical therapy after botulinum toxin (BoNT-A) injection significantly improved hip muscle strength, ankle motor control, walking speed, and overall mobility compared to routine therapy alone.

Both groups showed increased muscle strength after 8 weeks, but the study group experienced much greater improvements in specific areas, indicating that treadmill training enhances the benefits of BoNT-A treatment in pediatric rehabilitation.

NCBI (Pubmed)

pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov

How does treadmill training contribute to botulinum toxin application plus routine physical therapy in ambulatory children with spastic bilateral cerebral palsy? A randomized controlled trial. Bıyık, KS., Günel, MK., Akyüz, EÜ.[2023]

In a study involving 17 children with hemiplegic cerebral palsy, combining modified constraint-induced movement therapy (mCIMT) with botulinum type A toxin (BoNT-A) injections led to significant improvements in the functional use of the affected limb, as measured by the revised Pediatric Motor Activity Log.

While both groups showed improvements in muscle tone and movement patterns, only the group receiving the combined therapy (mCIMT and BoNT-A) demonstrated significant enhancements in the frequency and quality of limb use, indicating that mCIMT may enhance the effects of BoNT-A in therapy.

NCBI (Pubmed)

pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov

The short-term effects of combined modified constraint-induced movement therapy and botulinum toxin injection for children with spastic hemiplegic cerebral palsy. Park, ES., Rha, DW., Lee, JD., et al.[2010]

References

1. United States pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov

Sleight of hand: magic, therapy and motor performance. [2014]

2. England pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov

Upper Limb Function of Children with Unilateral Cerebral Palsy After a Magic-Themed HABIT: A Pre-Post-Study with 3- and 6-Month Follow-Up. [2020]

3. England pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov

Randomized controlled trial of web-based multimodal therapy for unilateral cerebral palsy to improve occupational performance. [2015]

4. England pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov

Effectiveness of interactive computer play on balance and postural control for children with cerebral palsy: A systematic review. [2020]

5. England pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov

Evaluation of a Magic Camp for Children with Hemiparesis: A Pilot Study. [2020]

6. England pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov

Twenty weeks of home-based interactive training of children with cerebral palsy improves functional abilities. [2018]

7. United States pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov

Muscle strength enhancement following home-based virtual cycling training in ambulatory children with cerebral palsy. [2012]

8. Netherlands pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov

Virtual reality based therapy for post operative rehabilitation of children with cerebral palsy. [2012]

9. Ireland pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov

How does treadmill training contribute to botulinum toxin application plus routine physical therapy in ambulatory children with spastic bilateral cerebral palsy? A randomized controlled trial. [2023]

10. Germany pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov

The short-term effects of combined modified constraint-induced movement therapy and botulinum toxin injection for children with spastic hemiplegic cerebral palsy. [2010]