Gillette Children's Specialty Healthcare and the University of Minnesota have teamed to create a new pediatric research study in hemiparesis.  The research uses noninvasive brain stimulation and constraint-induced therapy. 

 

Constraint-induced therapy involves limiting the use of the less affected arm and promoting the use of the more affected arm.  We are looking for children who have weakness on one side of their body to participate in this combined form of experimental treatment to improve hand function.  This study is receiving funding support from the National Institutes of Health (NIH), and is approved by the Food and Drug Administration (FDA).

Treatment involves two weeks of wearing a cast on the unaffected arm, as well as alternating days of arm exercises working with a therapist for about 2 hours or receiving comfortable brain stimulation (20 minutes total stimulation time).   The study occurs both at Gillette Children's for the arm exercises and the University of Minnesota for the brain stimulation.

To be eligible, children need to be able to move the paretic hand partially, walk short distances, have no indwelling metal or medical devices, be between the ages of 8-16 years old and have had no seizures within the last 2 years.  We are not offering payment for participation, and there is no charge for the treatments.  We will provide free parking or free taxi/transportation service to all settings for treatment and testing.  If interested in learning more, please contact our study coordinator at 612.626.6415.