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

What You Need to Know Before You Apply

What is the purpose of this trial?

This trial tests whether learning magic tricks can enhance social-emotional skills in adolescents with autism. Participants will join a 6-week online magic trick training camp to assess improvements in understanding emotions and interacting with others. Two groups will participate: one will learn magic tricks through the Magic Trick Training Program, while the other will continue their usual activities. This trial suits children aged 11-18 with autism who have good hand coordination and internet access for virtual sessions. As a Phase 2 trial, the research measures the treatment's effectiveness in an initial, smaller group, allowing participants to contribute to important findings.

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 prior data suggests that the Magic Trick Training Program is safe for adolescents with autism?

Research shows that magic trick training is quite safe for kids. In studies with children who have cerebral palsy, magic-themed therapy improved hand function without serious side effects. Another study found that children and their caregivers felt less anxious after learning magic tricks, with this calming effect lasting about an hour.

Since the trial is in Phase 2, testing is still in the early stages, but the treatment has been studied enough to suggest it is generally well-tolerated. Past research has found no major issues so far. ^{1 2 3 4 5}

Why are researchers excited about this trial?

Researchers are excited about Magic Trick Training for cerebral palsy because it offers a fresh, engaging approach to therapy. Unlike traditional treatments that often focus on physical exercises and assistive devices, this method uses virtual magic trick training to potentially enhance motor skills and cognitive engagement. Participants learn magic tricks in a fun and interactive way, which could improve hand function and coordination while also boosting confidence and motivation. This innovative approach could complement existing therapies, making rehabilitation more enjoyable and effective for individuals with cerebral palsy.

What evidence suggests that the Magic Trick Training might be an effective treatment for autism?

Research has shown that learning magic tricks can improve social and communication skills in teenagers with intellectual disabilities. This trial will evaluate the Magic Trick Training Program, where participants will engage in a 6-week virtual magic trick training camp. The training also enhances fine and gross motor skills, which are crucial for effective muscle use. Additionally, magic trick programs have reportedly boosted self-esteem in children with severe emotional challenges. These findings suggest that magic trick training might enhance social and emotional skills in teenagers with autism. Overall, the evidence supports the potential benefits of this fun and engaging approach. ^{1 2 6 7 8}

Who Is on the Research Team?

Hon K Yuen, PhD

Principal Investigator

University of Alabama at Birmingham

Are You a Good Fit for This Trial?

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 for a Trial Participant

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

What Are the Treatments Tested in This Trial?

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.

How Is the Trial Designed?

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+

Published Research Related to This Trial

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]

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]

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]

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]

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]

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 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]

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]

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]

Citations

1. withpower.com withpower.com/trial/phase-2-cerebral-palsy-2023-3adb8

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 ...

2. pmc.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov pmc.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/articles/PMC8567820/

Contribution of a virtual magic camp to enhancing self ... Magic trick programs have also been reported to enhance the self-esteem of children with severe emotional disturbances, and student cohorts with a diverse range ...

3. goodday.health goodday.health/trials/5664841

The Impact of a Virtual Magic Trick Training Program - GoodDay The proposed project will attempt to confirm the benefits of a structured magic trick training program (MTTP) experience in adolescents with unilateral ...

4. researchgate.net researchgate.net/figure/Study-Design-and-Assessment-Timeline-for-the-Magic-Trick-Training-Program_tbl1_368708551

Study Design and Assessment Timeline for the Magic Trick ... The results showed that this intervention program can benefit adolescents with ID in social-communication and adaptive skills, which can function as an ...

5. link.springer.com link.springer.com/article/10.1007/s10055-025-01152-x

Efficacy analysis of psychomotor impairment using virtual ... The combined outcomes from BOT-2 and DTVP-3 further confirmed that the intervention effectively enhanced fine and gross motor skills, visual ...

6. researchgate.net researchgate.net/publication/343349255_Identifying_mechanisms_of_change_in_a_magic-themed_hand-arm_bimanual_intensive_therapy_programme_for_children_with_unilateral_spastic_cerebral_palsy_A_qualitative_study_using_behaviour_change_theory

A qualitative study using behaviour change theory For example, "Breathe Magic" uses magic tricks in a group setting to help children with unilateral spastic cerebral palsy develop motor and bimanual skills, ...

7. jeehp.org jeehp.org/journal/view.php?number=315&view=citations

Development and validation of the Hocus Focus Magic ... The HFMPES was validated for 3 magic tricks, each of which posed a different level of challenge and demanded different types of motor skills.

8. sciencedirect.com sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S0277953623008985

On practicing magicine, from wonder to care: A systematic ... Pediatric inpatients and their caregivers exhibited reduced anxiety after viewing and learning magic tricks, persisting for an hour post-treatment. Medical ...