Breathe Magic
Research type
Research Study
Full title
Breathe Magic Intensive Therapy Programme
IRAS ID
199619
Contact name
Daisy Fancourt
Contact email
Sponsor organisation
Breathe Arts Health Research
Duration of Study in the UK
3 years, 0 months, 5 days
Research summary
Childhood hemiplegia (CH) (otherwise known as Spastic Unilateral Cerebral Palsy), is the most common type of cerebral palsy, characterised by predominant unilateral motor impairment. It affects approximately 1 in 1,300 live births, but may also be acquired later in childhood. Children with motor disorders such as CH or acquired brain injury, have particular difficulty manipulating objects and performing actions needed for independence in many daily activities. However, it has been shown that 65% of children with CH can benefit from intensive motor therapies, such as NICE-recommended Hand-Arm-Bimanual-Intensive-Therapy (HABIT), with research demonstrating clinically significant improvements in hand movement, hand function and goal attainment. \nBreathe Magic programme is a hand-arm-bimanual-intensive-therapy (HABIT) programme for children with hemiplegia (paralysis on one hand or arm). This programme involves children taking part in a 2 week intensive therapy programme consisting of 60 hours of 1-to-1 therapy followed by monthly consolidation workshops for 6 months after. Previous research has demonstrated improvements in bimanual motor skills, goal attainment and neurological activity. However, it remains unknown how the programme effects psychological and social factors nor how these interact with the bimanual improvements.\nThis research project will be conducted on the Breathe Magic programme. Children signed up to take part in the programme as usual but will also be given the opportunity to engage in the anonymous research, involving psychological scales, one additional functional assessment on top of their regular assessment schedule and the chance to take part in a focus group. Data will be collected across 2016, 2017 and 2018.\n
REC name
North West - Haydock Research Ethics Committee
REC reference
16/NW/0296
Date of REC Opinion
25 Apr 2016
REC opinion
Favourable Opinion