Effect of constraint-induced therapy on upper limb functions: a randomized control trial

Area of Science:

• Pediatric rehabilitation
• Neurorehabilitation
• Child development

Background:

• Congenital hemiparesis in children leads to unilateral upper extremity impairment, restricting manual task abilities and daily participation.
• Constraint-induced movement therapy (CIMT) shows promise for improving upper limb function in children with cerebral palsy.
• Objective quantification of functional changes post-intervention is crucial.

Purpose of the Study:

• To evaluate the effectiveness of a child-friendly Constraint-induced movement therapy (CIMT) program.
• To improve upper extremity functional performance in children with congenital hemiparesis.
• To assess both immediate and sustained efficacy of the intervention.

Main Methods:

• A randomized controlled trial involving 30 children (aged 4-8 years) with congenital hemiparesis.
• Participants were assigned to either a CIMT program or a conventional therapy program for 4 weeks (6 hours/day, 5 days/week).
• Evaluations included the Pediatric Arm Function Test, Quality of Upper Extremity Skills Test, and isokinetic shoulder muscle performance (peak torque).

Main Results:

• The CIMT group demonstrated significant improvements in upper extremity performance across various tasks immediately after the intervention compared to the control group.
• These functional improvements were maintained at a three-month follow-up.
• Isokinetic measures also indicated positive changes in shoulder muscle strength.

Conclusions:

• Pediatric CIMT, incorporating shaping techniques, yields substantial and lasting improvements in upper extremity movement and function for children with congenital hemiparesis.
• The therapy enhances functional abilities and participation in daily activities.
• CIMT represents a viable therapeutic strategy for this population.