Queensland Cerebral Palsy and Rehabilitation Research Centre

HABIT-ILE

The purpose of HABIT-ILE

In Australia, 35,000 people have cerebral palsy (CP), and between 60-70% of these people have difficulties with movement on both sides of their body (bilateral CP). We don’t yet have strong research evidence to support intensive therapy for children with bilateral CP to improve their ability to use their hands, walk and perform daily life tasks that are important to them or that they need to do. We have promising pilot data on a new intervention, called HABIT-ILE. We received over $1 million AUD from the Australian National Health and Medical Research Council (NHMRC) to test HABIT-ILE in 150 children with bilateral CP and compare results to the usual care that is received. The aim of this research is to determine if HABIT-ILE is effective at improving hand function and gross motor function. We are also going to use special functional Magnetic Resonance Imaging (MRI) to whether HABIT-ILE induces neuroplastic changes in the brain.

HABIT-ILE is delivered as a “day camp” model (6.5 hours a day for 10 days around the school holidays – a total of 65 hours of therapy!). Each camp offered therapy to children based on their motor abilities, age, interests and self-identified goals. This includes play, craft, cooking, everyday living skills, gaming technologies and practice of goal activities and physical activities. 

Who participated?

This study recruited children who:

  • Have confirmed diagnosis of bilateral CP (diplegia/quadriplegia), GMFCS levels II (walks with limitations) to IV (limited self-mobility but able to do a standing transfer with the assistance of 1 person)
  • Aged 6 to 16 years
  • Have the ability to grasp light objects and lift more impaired arm 15cm above a table surface
  • Are able to understand instructions and complete testing
  • Do not have uncontrolled seizures
  • Did not have or not planning orthopaedic surgery in the six months prior to or scheduled during study period
  • Do not have visual impairment interfering with treatment/testing
  • Have the ability to undertake standing transfers with the assistance of 1 person and/or walk a few steps (with a walker) at the minimum

This project is funded by NHMRC 1144846.

Chief Investigators

Dr Leanne Sakzewski, Prof. Roslyn Boyd, Dr Yannick Bleyenheuft, Prof. Iona Novak, Prof. Catherine Elliott, Dr. Cathy Morgan, Dr Kerstin Pannek

Associate Investigators

Dr David Rowell, Ms Prue Golland, Prof. Robert Ware

Publications
  • Sakzewski, L., Reedman, S., McLeod, K., Thorley, M., Burgess, A., Trost, S., Ahmadi, M., Rowell, D., Chatfield, M., Bleyenheuft, Y., & Boyd, R. N. (2021). Preschool HABIT-ILE: study protocol for a randomised controlled trial to determine efficacy of intensive rehabilitation compared with usual care to improve motor skills of children, aged 2–5 years, with bilateral cerebral palsy. BMJ Open, 11(3), e041542–e041542. https://doi.org/10.1136/bmjopen-2020-041542
  • Sakzewski, L., Bleyenheuft, Y., Boyd, R. N., Novak, I., Elliott, C., Reedman, S., Morgan, C., Pannek, K., Fripp, J., Golland, P., Rowell, D., Chatfield, M., & Ware, R. S. (2019). Protocol for a multisite randomised trial of Hand–Arm Bimanual Intensive Training Including Lower Extremity training for children with bilateral cerebral palsy: HABIT-ILE Australia. BMJ Open, 9(9), e032194–e032194. https://doi.org/10.1136/bmjopen-2019-032194