Constraint induced movement therapy (CIMT) for children with acquired or congential hemiplegia

Current Research Project

Title / Titel: Constraint induced movement therapy (CIMT) for children with acquired or congential hemiplegia - a randomised clinical trial

Summary / Zusammenfassung: Constraint Induced Movement Therapy (CIMT) for children with hemiparesis has been introduced in recent years. The concept consists of functional constraint of the unaffected arm with a splint and practice of the affected arm to overcome the learned non-use hereby inducing neuroplasticity. Previous literature is heterogeneous re duration, intensity of restraint and therapy (massed practice/shaping).
The study investigates the effectiveness of a 14 days outpatient program of forced use, wearing a forearm splint 6 hours daily during activities of daily living - without an increased frequency of therapy sessions.
Two separate studies investigate children either with congenital or acquired hemiplegia.
Children will be divided into three categories of age (2-5/6-10/11-16 yrs) and randomly allocated either in the intervention or control group. Subjects will be tested at baseline, pre-, posttest every 2 weeks and follow-ups test after 2 weeks, 3- and 12 months either with the Assisting Hand Assessment AHA (2-5yrs) or the Melbourne Assessment MA (6-16 yrs). Children attended their usual therapy program.
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Publications / Publikationen: - Eugster F, Herter M, Boltshauser E, Capone Mori A, Müller E, Kuenzle Ch, Knecht B, Steinlin M, Meyer-Heim A. Constraint Induced Movement Therapy (CIMT) for young children with congenital hemiparesis: feasibility and effectiveness of shaping and massed practice in a single case study. Swiss Med Wkly 2007;137(Suppl158):P41.
- Flückiger C, Eugster F, Boltshauser E, Capone Mori A, Müller E, Kuenzle Ch, Knecht B, Steinlin M, Meyer-Heim A. Constraint Induced Movement Therapy (CIMT) for children with congenital hemiparesis: Preliminary results of a randomised, multicentre intervention trial. Swiss Med Wkly 2007;137(Suppl158):P15.

Keywords / Suchbegriffe: child, cerebral palsy, constraint, forced use, rehabilitation

Project Leadership and Contacts / Projektleitung und Kontakte

Dr. med. Andreas Meyer-Heim (Project Leader)	Andreas.Meyer-Heim@kispi.uzh.ch
Prof. Dr. Eugen Boltshauser (Project Leader)	Eugen.Boltshauser@kispi.uzh.ch
Francisca Eugster, lic. phil. (Project Leader)	Francisca.Eugster@kispi.uzh.ch

In Collaboration with / In Zusammenarbeit mit

Francisca Eugster, lic. phil. Adapted physical acitivities. Institut für Bewegungswissenschaften und Sport, ETH Zürich Eling De Bruin Dr. Institut für Bewegungswissenschaften und Sport, ETH Zurich	Switzerland
Prof Dr. M. Steinlin, Neuropädiatrie Inselspital Bern, Dr. Christoph Küenzle, Rehabilitation Kinderspital St. Gallen; Dr. Andrea Capone, Neuropädiatrie Kinderspital Aarau.	Switzerland