Igniting Mobility in Adolescents and Young Adults with Cerebral Palsy

​​​​​​​Principal Investigator: Max Kurz, Ph.D.

The purpose of this study is to see how successful gait therapy (physical therapy focused on improving walking) is for individuals with cerebral palsy. Participants will utilize traditional therapeutic techniques or training with a robotic exoskeleton. Results from the therapy may differ between individuals, so the study will also look at how the brain works in order to better understand those differences. Adults who do not have cerebral palsy will be used as a comparison group.

• Who: Children and adults with and without cerebral palsy  
• Age: 11-30 years 
• Compensation: Participants without cerebral palsy: $50 per baseline assessment visit – baseline assessment total up to $150; Participants with cerebral palsy: $50 per baseline assessment visit – baseline assessment total up to $300 (if baseline assessment completed before and after gait therapy/outcome assessment)
• Tasks
• MEG scan (1.5 hours): MEG is a type of neuroimaging that is non-invasive, completely silent and safe. It lets us see the activity of the brain. During the assessment, we would have you/your child play a few games while we scan their brain.
• MRI Scan (1 hour): MRI is another non-invasive and safe scan that takes pictures of the brain. During the scan you/your child can sleep or watch a movie.
• Clinical tests of spinal cord and mobility.
• 8 weeks of free physical therapy (CP participants).
• Time:
• Baseline assessment: 3 visits, 1.5 to 2 hours per visit 
• Outcome (results) assessment (if applicable): 3 visits, 1.5 to 2 hours per visit 
• Gait therapy: 3 sessions per week for 8 weeks, 45 minutes per session
• Visit Type: In-person  
• Location: Boys Town Campus 
• Requirements: Participants with cerebral palsy cannot have had orthopedic surgery within the past six months, and they must have some ability to walk with or without assistance. Participants who do not have cerebral palsy cannot have other developmental conditions, such as autism, Down Syndrome, traumatic brain injury, etc. All participants cannot have any non-removeable metal in their body. 

Contact: 531-355-8951; Max.Kurz@boystown.org; Sarah.Baker@boystown.org; SarahJane.Walker@boystown.org