Multi Sensory Stimulation And Priming (MuSSAP) in Infants at Risk of Unilateral Cerebral Palsy

In the MuSSAP intervention group, the infant wears a multisensory stimulating wristband aiming at increasing attention for the affected upper limb and readiness to initiate a goal-directed movement. Parents are instructed to present a toy to their child if the child shows attention to the affected arm and hand. Upper extremity motor activities like reaching, grasping and holding are practiced. Parents practice daily and once a week the training will be guided or conducted by a physical or occupational therapist in the home environment. An occupational therapist from the rehabilitation center will coach parents during the intervention period through the internet, by means of analyzing the videos from the home training.

The Intensive Usual Care (Upper Limb) intervention is a more intensive (in duration and frequency) version of standard Usual Care with focus on the motor development of the affected upper extremity. Upper extremity motor activities like reaching, grasping and holding are practiced. Parents practice daily and once a week the training will be guided or conducted by a physical or occupational therapist in the home environment. An occupational therapist from the rehabilitation center will coach parents during the intervention period through the internet, by means of analyzing the videos from the home training.