Comparative Effectiveness of a Kinect-based Unilateral Arm Training System vs Constraint-Induced Therapy for Children With Cerebral Palsy

Comparative Effectiveness of a Kinect-based Unilateral Arm Training System vs Constraint-Induced Therapy for Children With Cerebral Palsy

The aims of the present study is to evaluate the effectiveness of Kinect-based upper limb motor rehabilitation system (ULMTS) program on motor performance and functional outcomes.

The specific aims of this study project will be:

To compare the effectiveness of intervention groups using Kinect-based ULMTS with constraint-induced therapy on motor improvement in children with hemiplegic CP. The investigators hypothesize that motor improvement in using Kinect-based ULMTS will be comparable to constraint-induced therapy.

Inclusion criteria are:

1. 3-16 years old
2. diagnosed with congenital hemiplegic or CP with one more affected side
3. considerable nonuse of the affected upper limb.

Exclusion criteria are:

1. no excessive muscle tone (Modified Ashworth Scale ≤ 2 at any joints of the upper limb) before beginning treatment (Bohannon & Smith, 1987)
2. no severe cognitive, visual, or auditory disorders according to medical documents, parental reports, and the examiner's clinical observation
3. no injections of botulinum toxin type A or operations on the upper limb within 6 months.