Clinical usefulness of brain-computer interface-controlled functional electrical stimulation for improving brain activity in children with spastic cerebral palsy: a pilot randomized controlled trial.

This was a pilot study with nine participants in each analysed group. It cannot establish effectiveness. The results report brain-wave outcomes, not hand or upper-limb function. Both groups received conventional physical therapy, so the contribution of BCI-FES or FES alone cannot be separated. The supplied table reports within-group significance markers, but no between-group significance result. Participants were children aged 4 to 9 with GMFCS level III/IV spastic CP, excluding high spasticity, poorly controlled epilepsy, and medication for stiffness, so the findings may not apply to other children with CP. The paper says participants were randomized but does not describe the randomization method or blinding.

The paper states that financial disclosure statements were obtained and no conflicts of interest were reported.

Do not conclude that BCI-FES improves function or is better than FES. The study reports within-group increases in EEG measures, and both groups also received conventional physical therapy. No functional outcome or between-group superiority is shown.