Hemiplegia Program

Applying Neuroscience Advances to Children with Hemiplegia

The Burke-Blythedale Hemiplegia Center is a multidisciplinary center where children with hemiplegic cerebral palsy can receive expert medical care and participate in state-of-the-art rehabilitation research.

For children with one-sided weakness, this collaborative Hemiplegia Clinic offers patients an opportunity for a multidisciplinary examination, including consultation with pediatric neurologists and occupational therapists who are familiar with hemiparesis. The team will meet and discuss their recommendations for optimal care with parents. If appropriate, patients and parents will be told about clinical research studies that are ongoing at Burke and Blythedale.

What does the Hemiplegia Program offer?

Full assessments for children with hemiplegia.
Referrals to therapies and treatments, including physical, occupational, speech, and vision therapies.
Treatment of spasticity and joint contractures.
Enrollment in cutting-edge clinical research trials, including robotic therapy, intensive hand therapy, and non-invasive brain stimulation.

What is it like to participate in our research?

Take a tour of our lab and hear what kids have to say in the video introduction below.
Contact us for clinical trials and evaluations.

For Kids!

Intensive Upper Extremity Summer Program

This program has been thoughtfully designed for children who have decreased use of one upper extremity due to hemiparesis or hemiplegia as a result of cerebral palsy, traumatic brain injury, stroke or other diagnoses. This six-week program is directed and implemented by Blythedale’s occupational therapists and Day Hospital teams, who utilize the concepts of constrained induced and bimanual therapy to help children with weakness and limited use of one arm. A typical day during this program includes a variety of activities such as arts and crafts, sports/playground activities, sensory play, self-care activities, and exercises to strengthen the upper extremity and improve range of motion.

Featured Clinical Trials

CLINICAL TRIAL:

Closed

Transcranial Direct Current Stimulation + Robotic Training

Conditions:

Cerebral Palsy

Research Projects

Friel Lab

RESEARCH PROJECT:

In Progress

Using Transcranial Direct Current Stimulation (tDCS) to augment the effects of robotic training on hand function in children with hemiplegic cerebral palsy

This study will investigate whether the use of Transcranial Direct Current Stimulation (tDCS) will improve the effectiveness of robotic training for children with hemiplegic cerebral palsy.

Technologies

Transcranial Magnetic Stimulation (TMS)

Transcranial means ‘through your head’, magnetic means there is a magnet in the machine, and stimulation means the magnet gives your brain a short bit of energy.

Transcranial Direct Current Stimulation (tDCS)

Transcranial direct current stimulation (tDCS) is a non-invasive brain stimulation therapy which uses constant, low current stimulation that is delivered to an area of the brain using electrodes on the head.