Joystick-Operated Ride-On Toys as a Therapy Adjunct for a Child With Hemiplegia: A Case Report

Area of Science:

• Pediatric Rehabilitation
• Neuroscience
• Assistive Technology

Background:

• Unilateral cerebral palsy (UCP) often affects upper extremity (UE) motor function, impacting daily activities.
• Community-based interventions are crucial for integrating therapy into a child's natural environment.
• Novel, engaging methods are needed to promote UE use and motor control in children with UCP.

Purpose of the Study:

• To evaluate the feasibility, acceptance, and satisfaction of a community-based UE training program.
• To assess the impact of a joystick-operated powered ride-on toy intervention on an 8-year-old child with UCP.
• To explore the potential of using ride-on toys for task-oriented sensorimotor exploration.

Main Methods:

• A case report detailing an 8-session, 1-month community-based training program.
• Utilized a joystick-operated powered ride-on toy for UE training.
• Involved collaboration with the child's caregiver.

Main Results:

• The training program was feasible to implement in a community setting.
• The intervention was enjoyable and well-accepted by the child and caregiver.
• Improvements in the child's affected UE motor function were observed, based on participant report and video analysis.

Conclusions:

• Joystick-operated ride-on toys offer a versatile and motivating tool for UE training in children with UCP.
• Community-based programs using such toys can encourage spontaneous UE use and improve motor control.
• This approach facilitates naturalistic, task-oriented sensorimotor exploration and enhances functional outcomes.