RecruitingNAINTERVENTIONAL

tSCS in Children and Young People With HCP

This research is exploring if a technique called Transcutaneous Spinal Cord Stimulation (tSCS) can improve arm and hand movement in young people aged 12 to 21 who have Hemiplegic Cerebral Palsy (HCP). HCP is a condition where one side of the body is affected, making everyday tasks difficult. tSCS involves placing sticky pads on the skin to deliver a gentle electrical current, which aims to help nerves send signals to muscles more effectively. Participants will have two short sessions. One session will combine the electrical stimulation with arm and hand exercises, while the other will just involve the exercises. The study wants to see if adding tSCS makes a difference in how well they can use their arm and hand.

At a glance

Status

Recruiting

Phase

Sponsor

University of Leeds

Enrolment target

Start

29 Apr 2026

Estimated completion

30 Sep 2026

Cerebral Palsy Spastic Hemiplegic

What is this study about?

Cerebral palsy (CP) is a condition that affects movement and posture, and it's caused by issues with brain development in babies or young children. Hemiplegic CP (HCP) means that one side of the body, including the arm and leg, is more affected. This can make simple daily tasks, like reaching for things or holding objects, quite challenging. Improving how well young people can use their arm and hand is really important for helping them become more independent and enjoy a better quality of life.

This study is looking into a technique called Transcutaneous Spinal Cord Stimulation, or tSCS for short. It's not a surgery; it involves placing small sticky pads on the skin, usually on the back, which deliver a very mild electrical current. This gentle current is thought to help nerves work better and send signals to muscles, with the goal of improving how the arm and hand move.

Previous research has shown that tSCS might help with leg movements in young people with CP, and also in those with spinal cord injuries. This particular study wants to see if it can also be helpful for the arms and hands of young people with HCP when it's used alongside special arm and hand exercises. The researchers want to find out if this combination can make a noticeable positive change.

Key takeaways

This study investigates if a gentle electrical treatment combined with exercises can help arm and hand function.
It's for young people aged 12-21 with Hemiplegic Cerebral Palsy.
Participation involves two short, non-invasive sessions.
The electrical current is mild and delivered through skin pads.
The aim is to improve daily activities and independence.
You can withdraw from the study at any time.

Who may be eligible?

This study is looking for boys and girls aged between 12 and 21 years who have been diagnosed with Hemiplegic Cerebral Palsy (HCP). It's important that your child is having some difficulty using their hand in everyday activities, but is still able to do simple movements like reaching or grasping objects. They should also be generally healthy, without certain heart or lung problems, uncontrolled high blood pressure, or a history of seizures.

There are also some reasons why someone might not be able to join. For example, if they have other brain-related conditions, have had recent major surgery, or have ongoing serious health problems like cancer or unhealed bone breaks. It's also not suitable if they have a pacemaker or other implanted medical devices, or if they've received certain injections (Botox) in the past six months.

Participants need to be able to understand and follow instructions and attend two study sessions. If your child is under 16, a parent or legal guardian will need to give permission and also be able to speak English.

Could this study suit you?

Answer these quick questions to see if you may be eligible. This is a guide only — the research team makes the final call.

Are you/is your child aged between 12 and 21?
Do you/does your child have Hemiplegic Cerebral Palsy?
Are you/is your child finding it difficult to use their hand in daily tasks?
Are you/is your child generally healthy, without serious heart, lung, or seizure conditions?
Can you/your child attend two sessions lasting 60-90 minutes each?
Do you/does your child not have any implanted medical devices like a pacemaker?

Answer every question to see your result.

What does participation involve?

If you or your child decides to take part, they will need to attend two sessions. Each session will last about 60 to 90 minutes. During these sessions, there will be a check-up to see how the arm and hand are working before any training starts. Then, your child will do 30 minutes of special arm and hand exercises. In one session, these exercises will be combined with the gentle electrical stimulation (tSCS), and in the other session, they will just do the exercises without the stimulation. The order of these two types of sessions will be chosen randomly, like flipping a coin. After each training session, there will be another check-up to see if there are any changes. There are no medications involved in this study.

Potential risks and benefits

Taking part in this study might help improve the way your child uses their arm and hand, potentially making daily tasks easier and increasing their independence. However, we don't know for sure if it will help, as this is what the study aims to find out. The electrical stimulation is generally considered safe and mild, but like with any treatment, there's a small chance of minor side effects like skin irritation where the pads are placed. Participants are free to withdraw from the study at any time, for any reason, without it affecting their medical care.

Locations (1)

University of Leeds
Verified postcode
Leeds, United Kingdom· Recruiting

Common questions

What is Hemiplegic Cerebral Palsy?

It's a type of Cerebral Palsy where one side of the body is more affected, often making it harder to use the arm and leg on that side.

What is tSCS?

tSCS stands for Transcutaneous Spinal Cord Stimulation. It's a non-invasive technique that uses sticky pads on the skin to deliver a gentle electrical current to help nerves.

Will the electrical stimulation hurt?

The electrical current used in tSCS is very mild. Participants usually describe it as a tingling sensation, not painful.

How many times will we need to visit?

You will need to attend two separate sessions for this study, each lasting about 60-90 minutes.

Can we stop participating if we change our mind?

Yes, you can choose to stop participating at any time during the study, without giving a reason, and it won't affect any future medical care.

How to find out more

Omar NAHHAS, PhD Candidate

bsothn@leeds.ac.uk + 44 113 343 7267 Official trial record

Always speak to your GP or specialist before deciding to take part in a study.