Clinical Research Projects

Clinical Project 1: Children's Activity and Participation Study" (CAPS), IRB -HSR # 12335 

This study is being conducted in conjunction with the Shriner's Hospital System and aims to draw conclusions on the "services, interventions, and supports that are responsive to the priorities of children with cerebral palsy and their families in order to optimize outcomes for activity and participation in daily life" (IRB-HSR # 12335 grant proposal).

This study involves children, age 3-21, along with their parents, and will involve a series of computer-based surveys during a 1-time visit over the course of 2-3 hours depending on the age of the child.  Surveys will focus on the nature and amount of participation in household, school, and community life.  As well, questions are asked on general health of the child, family demographics, and how needed services are being obtained by the child and parents.

All data will be kept confidential.  No compensation is provided for this study. 

If interested or for more information, please contact:

Shannon La Spina, PT/DPT
Physical Therapist and Research Coordinator
Phone:  434-982-0849
Email:  srl4n@virginia.edu
Fax:      434-982-1551

 

Clinical Project 2: Efficacy and Functional Outcomes of Botulinum Toxin A Injections to Hamstrings in Flexed Knee Gait in Cerebral Palsy:  A Double-Blinded, Randomized, Controlled Trial, IRB-HSR #12332

This study is being conducted in conjunction with the Shriner's Hospital System as part of the Botox Outcome Research Group (BORG), and seeks to evaluate the affects of Botox injections on the hamstrings.  Study aims are as follows:
  1. To determine if injections of Botox-A to the hamstring muscles result in measureable physiologic changes not observed with normal saline injections in children with spastic cerebral palsy who walk with a flexed knee gait pattern.
  2. To assess whether physiologic changes translate into functional (activity and participation) improvements.
  3. To evaluate family's perception of change in function, activity, participation, and daily life.

Participants will undergo assessments of physical and functional changes through 4, 3-hour visits to the Motion Analysis Lab over the course of 6-mos.  The injections will be given after the baseline assessment (on the same day), in the orthopedic clinic at the Kluge Children's Rehabilitation Center. 

All evaluations will be done free of charge, as will the Botox injections for those in the experimental group.  For those who are randomly placed in the control group, and receiving saline injections, an opportunity will be given to get Botox injections at the conclusion of the 6-mos study.  These fees will be billed to insurance as they would normally be.

If interested, please contact:

Shannon La Spina, PT/DPT
Physical Therapist and Research Coordinator
Phone:   434-982-0849
Email:   sl4n@virginia.edu
Fax:      434-982-1551