Magic Camp for Children With Hemiplegic Cerebral Palsy

This project will employ a single group pretest-posttest design to investigate the impact of
a "Magic Camp" on the improvement in upper limb motor function, health-related quality of
life, and emotional stress among children with spastic hemiplegic CP. After the baseline
evaluation, eligible participants will complete one-on-one "magic trick" training 3-hours per
day for 2 consecutive weeks. The primary outcome measures will be unimanual function as
measured by the Jebsen Taylor Test of Hand Function, bimanual coordination as measured by
kinematic parameters using motion analysis, and spontaneous use of the more affected limb in
real-life activities that demand the use of both hands as measured by the Children's Hand
Experience Questionnaire. Secondary outcome measures will include HRQoL as measured by the
Cerebral Palsy Quality of Life Questionnaire, in-depth dyad qualitative interviews of the
caregivers and children, and emotional stress as measured by the fingernail cortisol levels.

Inclusion Criteria:

- spasticity with Modified Ashworth Scale grades between 1 and 3;

- ability to lift the more affected arm 15 cm above a table surface;

- impairment of hand function at levels I to III of the Manual Activity Classification
System

- ability to grasp and release light objects with the more affected hand

- largely nonuse of the more affected hand in daily activities as determined by the
Pediatric Motor Activity Log

- are interested in learning magic tricks

- have the cognitive and social ability to participate in a camp setting;

- ability to follow directions in English; and

- ability to remember simple sequences of actions to perform magic tricks.

Exclusion Criteria:

- severe muscle spasticity or fixed contracture in the more affected limb that limits
functional arm and hand use

- dystonia

- severe visual or auditory disorders that prevent learning and carrying out the magic
tricks

- serious or recurring medical complications

- participation in intensive upper limb intervention and/or musculoskeletal and tone
management treatments, dorsal rhizotomy, or surgery on the upper limb in the previous
6 months or anticipated within subsequent 6 months

- start muscle relaxant within the last 3 months; or

- plan to move to another state within the next 6 months.