A pilot randomized clinical trial exploring the effect of a Multi Sensory Stimulation And Priming (MuSSAP) training on improving manual ability in infants at risk of developing unilateral Cerebral Palsy.

Rationale:

Unilateral Cerebral Palsy (uCP) results from early brain damage. In adults, brain damage in one side of the (pre) motor cortex is associated with functional problems in the contralateral side of the body and vice versa. This is related to extensive crossings of the descending corticospinal tracts connecting the central motor systems with the musculature of the extremities. However, during the first years of our lives, crossings of the corticospinal tracts are less defined and the motor system relies on both ipsi- and contralateral connections to control the extremities. In children with uCP the classical development and strengthening of the crossed connections of the corticospinal tracts might be hampered. Although reorganization with ipsilateral corticospinal tracts can mediate useful hand function, patients with the most favourable functional outcome retain crossed projections from the affected hemisphere. To facilitate maturation of the corticospinal tracts, it seems crucial to start early with intervention at the stage that the corticospinal tracts show high plasticity. Attention benefits from multisensory congruent signals, particularly if this congruency involves rhythmical similarity. Attention influences the sensitivity of neurons to detect sensory activity and the ability of neurons to detect sensory stimulation. Formation of neural pathways is facilitated by increasing activity in (new) functional neural circuits. During the multisensory stimulation, motor actions of both or one arm and hand will be provoked. In contrast to the functional training focused primarily on motor output, MuSSAP enhances motor learning by stimulating the perception-action loop. In this study, we propose to pilot test whether a new intervention; Multi Sensory Stimulation And Priming (MuSSAP) can be applied in clinical practice in infants 4-12 months of age with diagnosed unilateral cerebral damage having increased risk on the development of unilateral cerebral palsy.

Objective:

Primary objective: The following hypothesis will be tested: MuSSAP in infants 4-12 months of age with diagnosed unilateral cerebral damage, is a feasible protocol and results in an enhanced motor development as compared to Intensive Usual Care (Upper Limb).

Secondary Objective(s): Assessment of feasibility of the intervention: Can the MuSSAP intervention and procedures be successfully executed and delivered to the participants? Assessment of acceptability: Suitability of the intervention and the study procedures from the perspective of the participants. Determining effect sizes for a future full-scale randomized clinical trial and clinical relevance.

Study design:

The study is designed as a pilot randomized clinical trial (RCT) with three measuring moments (before intervention, after intervention, and follow-up).

Study population:

The study population consists of 16 infants at risk for developing unilateral cerebral palsy. These infants will either be born preterm suffering from unilateral periventricular haemorrhagic infarction, or born at term suffering from unilateral middle cerebral artery (MCA) stroke. The infants at risk will be allocated either to the MuSSAP intervention group (8 infants) or the Intensive Usual Care (Upper Limb) group (8 infants) by randomisation. Data of 8 typically developing infants will be used to monitor typical development of infants of 4-12 months old.

Intervention:

Both the MuSSAP and the Intensive Usual Care (Upper Limb) interventions are home based and consist of 30 minutes (divided in 3 periods of 10 minutes each) of remediating impairments practicing specific age related movements and skills, each day for an 8-week period, conducted by the parents and once a week by a physical or occupational therapist in the home environment. Upper extremity motor activities like reaching, grasping and holding are practiced. Coaching of parents and therapists will be performed by the occupational therapist of the Sint Maartenskliniek. This will be realised through analysing video recordings of the intervention in the home environment once a week.

Multi Sensory Stimulation And Priming (MuSSAP): In the MuSSAP intervention a custom made wristband will be used to provide rhythmical congruent multisensory stimulations to the affected arm and hand aiming to increase attention for the affected upper limb. Subsequently, motor actions of the affected arm and hand will be provoked.

Intensive Usual Care (Upper Limb): This intervention is a more intensive (in duration and frequency) version of standard Usual Care with focus on the motor development of the affected upper extremity.

In both intervention groups infants will additionally receive pediatric physical therapy in the home environment (usual care) focusing on gross motor development.

Primary study parameters/outcome of the study:

The primary study parameter aims at development of handfunction/ manual ability (measured with the Hand Assessment for Infants (HAI)).

Inclusion Criteria Intervention:

• Born preterm suffering from unilateral periventricular haemorrhagic infarction with involvement of the corticospinal tracts
• Born term suffering from unilateral middle cerebral artery stroke with involvement of the corticospinal tracts
• ±4 months of age (time the infant starts to reach with at least one hand) to 10 months of age (age corrected in case of prematurity)

Exclusion Criteria Intervention:

• Severe epilepsy
• Severe sensory impairments (blindness, deafness)
• Children with clinical signs of bilateral involvement
• Inability of parents to respond to interviews or questionnaires in Dutch
• Expected inability of parents to adhere to the home-based protocol

Inclusion Criteria age matched typical developing infants:

• Born term (≥37 weeks gestational age)
• Birth weight within a normal range (≥2500 grams)

Exclusion Criteria age matched typical developing infants:

• Inability of parents to respond to interviews or questionnaires in Dutch
• Expected inability of parents to adhere to planned measuring moments