Treatment of congenital hemiparesis with pediatric constraint-induced movement therapy

J Child Neurol. 2011 Sep;26(9):1163-73. doi: 10.1177/0883073811408423. Epub 2011 Jul 19.

Abstract

To determine efficacy of pediatric Constraint-Induced Movement therapy, 20 children with congenital hemiparesis (ages 2 to 6 years) were randomly assigned to receive the treatment or usual care. Controls crossed over to the therapy after 6 months. Children receiving the therapy first exhibited emergence of more new classes of motor patterns and skills (eg, crawling, thumb-forefinger prehension; 6.4 vs 0.02, P < .0001, effect size d = 1.3), and demonstrated significant gains in spontaneous use of the more affected arm at home (2.2 vs 0.1, P < .0001, d = 3.8) and in a laboratory motor function test. Depending on the measure, benefits were maintained (range, no loss to 68% retention over 6 months). When controls crossed over to the therapy, they exhibited improvements as great as or greater than those receiving therapy first. Thus, Constraint-Induced Movement therapy appears to be efficacious for young children with hemiparesis consequent to congenital stroke.

Publication types

  • Randomized Controlled Trial
  • Research Support, N.I.H., Extramural
  • Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't

MeSH terms

  • Child
  • Child, Preschool
  • Cross-Over Studies
  • Female
  • Humans
  • Male
  • Movement / physiology*
  • Paresis / congenital*
  • Paresis / physiopathology*
  • Paresis / rehabilitation*
  • Pediatrics*
  • Restraint, Physical / methods*