HABIT-ILE in Infants and Toddlers With Cerebral Palsy (Baby HABIT-ILE)

Effects of HABIT-ILE in Secondary Brain Damage Outcomes of Infants and Toddlers With Signs of Cerebral Palsy

Using a randomized controlled trial design, the possible changes induced by the intensive treatment programme "Hand-arm Bimanual Intensive Therapy Including Lower Extremities (HABIT-ILE)" in functional, everyday life activities and neuroplastic assessment will be studied in infants and toddlers with cerebral palsy.

Using a randomized controlled trial design, the possible changes in neuroimaging, motor function and everyday life activities of infants and toddlers at risk of or with a diagnosis of cerebral palsy after participating of the intensive treatment programme "Hand-arm Bimanual Intensive Therapy Including Lower Extremities (HABIT-ILE)" will be studied . Changes, scored by parents in case of questionnaires and by experts in the case of tests, will be observed comparing infants/toddlers after their regular care and after receiving HABIT-ILE. Motor function and daily life activities will be correlated with neuroplastic changes. Moreover, possible therapy onset outcomes differences will be observed.

Inclusion Criteria:

• children with diagnosed unilateral cerebral palsy or at risk of developing unilateral cerebral palsy or with signs of unilateral cerebral palsy
• age 8 to 18 months inclusive (corrected age if preterm birth)
• ability to follow instructions and complete testing according to the age.

Exclusion Criteria:

• active seizure
• programmed botulinum toxin or orthopedic surgery in the 6 months previous to the intervention, during intervention period or 6 months after the intervention time.
• severe visual impairments
• severe cognitive impairments
• contraindications to perform magnetic image resonance (MRI) assessments (metal implants, etc.)