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.
The proposed study will test the feasibility and effectiveness of a Magic Camp in children with spastic hemiplegic cerebral palsy (CP). A single group pretest-posttest design (n=10) will be used to investigate the immediate (2 weeks) and longer-term effect (3 months) of a Magic Camp on improving upper limb motor function and health-related quality of life (HRQoL) in children with hemiplegic CP.