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Effects of constraint-induced movement therapy on gait, balance, and functional locomotor mobility
Genevieve Pinto Zipp1, Sue Winning
1Department of Graduate Programs in Health Sciences, Seton Hall University, South Orange, New Jersey 07079, USA. Genevieve.Zipp@shu.edu
Insights
Constraint-Induced Movement Therapy (CIMT) improved gait cadence and velocity in children with cerebral palsy. However, this therapy did not significantly affect balance or functional mobility in the pilot study.
Area of Science:
- Pediatric rehabilitation
- Neurorehabilitation
- Movement science
Background:
- Cerebral palsy (CP) affects motor function in children.
- Constraint-Induced Movement Therapy (CIMT) is a rehabilitation approach.
- Understanding CIMT's effects on gait and balance in children with CP is crucial.
Purpose of the Study:
- To investigate the secondary effects of CIMT on gait, balance, and functional mobility in children with CP.
- To analyze changes in spatial-temporal gait parameters post-CIMT.
- To assess functional locomotor mobility and balance using standardized measures.
Main Methods:
- A 3-week CIMT program was administered to 16 children (4-12 years old) with CP.
- Participants underwent pre- and post-therapy assessments.
- Evaluations included the Standardized Walking Obstacle Course (SWOC), Pediatric Balance Scale (PBS), and GAITRite system.
Main Results:
- Significant improvements were observed in gait cadence (P = .02) and velocity (P = .05).
- 12 participants showed increased cadence, and 10 showed increased velocity.
- No significant changes were found in SWOC or PBS performance.
Conclusions:
- CIMT positively influenced specific spatial-temporal gait parameters in children with CP.
- CIMT did not yield significant improvements in balance or functional mobility as measured by SWOC and PBS.
- Further research is needed to explore CIMT's broader impact on functional outcomes in pediatric CP.
Purpose:
This study reports the secondary effects of a constraint-induced movement therapy (CIMT) protocol on spatial temporal parameters of gait, balance, and functional locomotor mobility in children with cerebral palsy.
Methods:
Sixteen children (4-12 years old) participated in a 3-week CIMT program. Participants were tested on the first and last day of the CIMT program using the Standardized Walking Obstacle Course (SWOC), the Pediatric Balance Scale (PBS) and the GAITRite Gold system (CIR Systems, Inc, Havertown, Pennsylvania).
Results:
Wilcoxon signed rank tests were used on all pre- and posttests. Only the spatial temporal parameters of cadence and velocity differed significantly, with 12 subjects displaying a faster cadence (P = .02) and 10 subjects displaying a faster velocity (P = .05).
Conclusion:
In this pilot study, CIMT was found to promote changes in 2 spatial temporal parameters of gait. However, no changes were noted in the participant's measures on the SWOC and PBS.