Related Experiment Video
Updated: Jun 18, 2026
Event-related Potentials During Target-response Tasks to Study Cognitive Processes of Upper Limb Use in Children with Unilateral Cerebral Palsy
Published on: January 11, 2016
Forced use as a home-based intervention in children with congenital hemiplegic cerebral palsy: choosing the
Pavlina Psychouli1, Jane Burridge, Colin Kennedy
1School of Health Professions and Rehabilitation Sciences, University of Southampton, Highfield Campus, Building 45, Southampton, UK. pp8@soton.ac.uk
Purpose:
The purpose of this study was (1) to identify the most appropriate splint from children's and parents' perspective as reflected by effectiveness and adherence to home-based forced use therapy (FUT). (2) To provide guidance in the development of a practical and effective protocol based on forced use principles.
Method:
A crossover design with a convenience sample of children with hemiplegic cerebral palsy and their parents was used to test three types of splint (mitt, short splint and long splint) during home-based FUT. Children wore the splints for a minimum of 1 h/ day during physical activity. Outcome measures included a daily log and a questionnaire (completed by parents), an actometer worn on the affected hand to quantify movement and video recordings to inform quality of movement.
Results:
The short splint was found to be the most effective and acceptable restraining device. Wearing devices for more than 1 h per day was not considered acceptable by either parents or children.
Conclusion:
A short splint, worn for 1 h per day was found to be the most acceptable protocol.
