Effects of Forms of Modified CIT on Upper Extremity Performance in Cerebral Palsy

Effects of Forms of Modified Constraint-induced Therapy on Functional Performance of Upper Extremity in Children With Cerebral Palsy With Asymmetric Motor Impairments: A Follow up Study of Kinematic and Clinical Analyses

The purpose of this study will employ clinical assessment tools to examine the effects of modified constraint-induced therapy (mCIT) on the more affected upper extremity of children with cerebral palsy.

The study included threefold: (1) It will employ kinematic analysis, along with clinical assessment tools to examine the effects of mCIT on the more affected upper extremity of children with cerebral palsy with asymmetric motor impairments after treatment immediately and 1 year following. The clinical tools will include Motor Activity Log (MAL), Bruininks-Oseretsky Test of Motor Proficiency (BOTMP),Peabody-Developmental Motor Scales (PDMS-II), and Wee-FIM. (2) This study looked at the intervention impact on bimanual coordination and the less affected upper extremity. (3) It investigated the effects of forms (group vs. individual intervention) on upper extremity performance.

Inclusion Criteria:

1. clinical diagnosis of spastic CP
2. age between 4 and 10 years old
3. shoulder flexion of the affected upper limb more than 90 degrees, elbow extension over 160 degrees, wrist extension to 10 degrees at least, and fingers full flexion to 10 degrees at least
4. basic balance ability: sitting on the chair without arm support; feet stay on the floor consistently; performing the affected upper limb movement without losing balance
5. ability to follow simple oral commands
6. no related musculoskeletal surgery of the affected upper limb
7. not have injected the Botox into the affected upper extremity during the past 6 months
8. no visual or auditory disability