Evaluation of a Magic Camp for Children with Hemiparesis: A Pilot Study

Abstract

This single-group open trial was designed to evaluate the effectiveness of a two-week magic camp as a means of hand-arm motor skills training to improve upper limb motor function (unilateral and bilateral) in children with hemiparesis. Seven children with hemiparesis participated in a magic camp program which met 3 days a week, 4 hours each day, for two consecutive weeks for a total of 24 hours. Participants completed three assessments at the beginning of the camp, post-camp, and at a three-month follow-up: the Jebsen Hand Function Test (JHFT), Children's Hand Experience Questionnaire (CHEQ), and a box opening task that required coordination of both upper limbs. A Wilcoxon signed-rank test revealed significant improvement in JHFT composite scores of the affected limb at post-camp (p = .04) and three-month follow-up (p = .04). In addition, a significant improvement in the number of activities performed using two hands from baseline to three-month follow-up was observed (p = .03). This pattern of improvement was also observed in the speed of completion for the box opening task. The improvement in motor function seems related to the participants' continuing performing daily activities with the affected hand and two hands after the magic camp.

Keywords: Hand-arm bimanual intensive therapy; hemiplegia; motivation; pediatrics.