Studies comparing the efficacy of constraint-induced movement therapy and bimanual training in children with unilateral cerebral palsy: a systematic review

Abstract

Objective: To review studies comparing the efficacy of constraint-induced movement therapy (CIMT) and bimanual training (BIT) in improving the hemiplegic arm functioning and overall functional performance for children with unilateral cerebral palsy (CP).

Methods: Systematic searches of electronic databases, reference lists and journals identified seven studies that met pre-determined inclusion criteria. These studies were analysed in terms of participants, treatment activities and regime, outcome measures and results of intervention.

Results: Both CIMT and BIT produced similar improvements in the bimanual and unimanual capacities of the affected arm and overall functional performance.

Conclusions: CIMT yields more improvements in the unimanual capacity of the impaired arm compared with BIT. A potential benefit of BIT is that participants may see more improvement in both bimanual performance and self-determined overall life goals. A combination of CIMT and BIT could be an option on improving arm function for children with unilateral CP in future.