Constraint-Induced Movement Therapy for a Child with Hemiplegic Cerebral Palsy: A casereport

Authors

Wen-Chi Wu
Yee-Hwa Wu
Hsueh-Feng Chang
Chih-Wei Huang
Jen-Wen Hung

Translated Title

侷限誘發療法對半側偏癱腦性麻痺兒童的運用：病例報告

Abstract

Non-use of the affected hand is a common symptom of children with hemiplegic cerebral palsy (CP). This report describes the effects of constraint-induced movement therapy in a child with hemiplegic CP, focusing on function and use frequency of the affected hand. Additionally, possible harmful affect on the non-affected hand is also assessed. This study concerns a five-year-old male, with right hemiplegic CP, who received constraint-induced movement therapy for 8 weeks. Throughout the therapy period, the boy wore a splint for at least 8 hours per day to limit movement to the non-affected hand. Functional changes of the affected hand were assessed with the Peabody Developmental Motor Scales-2 (PDMS-2) and in the non-affected hand with Bruininks-Oseretsky Test of Motor Proficiency (BOTMP) at 1 week prior to therapy and weeks 4 and 8 during therapy, and at week 8 post-therapy. At the time points, the child was videotaped while playing for 15 minutes. The boy's affected hand had a significant improved score of PDMS-2 at week 4 of therapy. This improvement remained at week 8 post-therapy. Analysis of the videotape data, we also indicated that the use frequency of the affected hand had increased. The BOTMP assessment demonstrated that therapy did not impact the non-affected hand. This report shows that constraint-induced movement therapy improved function and use frequency of this hemiplegic CP boy's affected hand. Additionally, improvement persisted for 8 weeks after therapy was finished. As this is only a single case, a further study will enroll more cases to determine whether these findings are applicable to other subjects with hemiplegic CP.

Language

Traditional Chinese

DOI Link

https://doi.org/10.6315/2006.34(2)07

First Page

111

Last Page

118

Recommended Citation

Wu, Wen-Chi; Wu, Yee-Hwa; Chang, Hsueh-Feng; Huang, Chih-Wei; and Hung, Jen-Wen (2006) "Constraint-Induced Movement Therapy for a Child with Hemiplegic Cerebral Palsy: A casereport," Rehabilitation Practice and Science: Vol. 34: Iss. 2, Article 7.
DOI: https://doi.org/10.6315/2006.34(2)07
Available at: https://rps.researchcommons.org/journal/vol34/iss2/7