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Randomized Controlled Trial
. 2016;36(2):171-85.
doi: 10.3109/01942638.2015.1101042. Epub 2015 Dec 7.

Younger Children with Cerebral Palsy Respond Better Than Older Ones to Therapist-Based Constraint-Induced Therapy at Home on Functional Outcomes and Motor Control

Hsieh-ching Chen  1 , Lin-ju Kang  2 , Chia-ling Chen  2   3 , Keh-chung Lin  4 , Fei-chuan Chen  5 , Katie P H Wu  3   6
Affiliations
Randomized Controlled Trial

Younger Children with Cerebral Palsy Respond Better Than Older Ones to Therapist-Based Constraint-Induced Therapy at Home on Functional Outcomes and Motor Control

Hsieh-ching Chen et al. Phys Occup Ther Pediatr. 2016.

Abstract

Aims: To examine the differences in efficacy of home-based constraint-induced therapy (CIT) on functional outcomes and motor control in two age groups of children with cerebral palsy (CP).

Methods: Twenty-three children with spastic unilateral CP receiving 4-week home-based CIT by a therapist were divided into younger (6-8 years; n = 11) and older (9-12 years; n = 12) groups. The home-based CIT involved intensive functional training of the more affected upper-limb while restraining the less affected upper-limb. The outcome measures were Peabody Developmental Motor Scale-2nd edition (PDMS-2) that was being used in a modified way, Functional Independence Measure for Children (WeeFIM), and reach-to-grasp kinematic parameters, including reaction time (RT), normalized movement time (MT), normalized movement units (MUs), peak velocity (PV), and maximum grip aperture (MGA). The outcome measures were assessed at baseline, 4-weeks (post-treatment), 3- and 6-months (follow-up).

Results: The younger group showed greater changes in visual motor integration skills and RT at all post-tests after intervention than the older group. Groups had comparable changes on any other measures.

Conclusions: Younger children with CP responded better to home-based CIT on some areas of upper-limb functions and reach-to-grasp motor control strategies than older children.

Keywords: Age; cerebral palsy; constraint-induced therapy; functional outcomes; motor control.

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