Movement Enhancing Device for Children

Not Applicable

Completed

Brief Summary: The purpose of this study is to assess: 1) how infants move their bodies to explore, play, and solve problems, 2) if this is different in a high-risk group of infants, and 3) if these abilities can be advanced in a high-risk group through the use of a movement assisting device.

Detailed Description: Certain conditions or diagnoses identified soon after birth are known to put infants at risk for having problems with their motor (movement) development as they get older. Infants with these diagnoses are at risk for additional developmental problems due to their inability to move their bodies to explore, learn, and play. This study tests how a device that assists movement can help exploration, learning, and play in children. The information gathered in this study will help us better understand how early learning happens and how we can help individuals become better movers, learners, and problem-solvers so they can increase their participation in everyday play activities.

Recruitment & Eligibility

Inclusion Criteria

• Infants will be invited to participate if they are between 1 month and 6 years and:

Were born < 36 weeks of gestational age with periventricular leukomalacia or grade III or IV intraventricular hemorrhage
Were born > 36 weeks of gestational age with encephalopathy related to perinatal asphyxia
Have the diagnosis of neonatal stroke or intracranial hemorrhage
Have brachial plexus palsy
Have arthrogryposis multiplex congenital
Have Down syndrome
Have congenital hypotonia

Exclusion Criteria

• blindness or severe sensory motor impairments that would prohibit the child from completing the study assessment.

Arm && Interventions

Group	Intervention	Description
Movement enhancing device	Movement Enhancing Device	Guided play while wearing a movement assisting device

Primary Outcome Measures

Name	Time	Method
Change in Time Contacting Objects	7 months	Percent of the assessment time participants are able to contact objects across different locations. Change within each session with versus without the exoskeleton donned. Slope of change across time in the intervention phase relative to in the baseline phase.

Secondary Outcome Measures

Name	Time	Method

Locations (3): Christiana Care Health Services
🇺🇸
Newark, Delaware, United States
Nemours Foundation
🇺🇸
Wilmington, Delaware, United States
University of Delaware
🇺🇸
Newark, Delaware, United States