Constraint Induced Movement Therapy in Improving Upper Extremity Function in Children with Spastic Hemiplegia Cerebral Palsy: An Integrated Review and Experts? View

Constraint Induced Movement Therapy (CIMT) is one of the effective methods in improving motor function of upper extremity in children with spastic hemiplegic cerebral palsy, which has various types. The objective of the present integrated review was to investigate the effect of CIMT in children with spastic hemiplegic cerebral palsy and to create specific instruction for using this method for these children.

In the present combined and two-stage study, first, in an integrated review, all articles in Persian and English languages between 2000 and 2015 on children with spastic hemiplegic cerebral palsy were extracted using the following keywords: cerebral palsy, hemiplegia, Constraint Induced Movement Therapy, rehabilitation, and occupational therapy. Then, in the qualitative stage, the results were examined in the five-member expert panel of professional occupational therapists in the area of cerebral palsy.

In the conducted investigation, 36 articles were found related on cerebral palsy and upper extremity function. First, by examining the summary of articles, only 14 articles that met the inclusion criteria were selected. Then, full texts of articles related to interventions CIMT to improve hand function of patients with cerebral palsy were examined.

In the investigations conducted, the positive impact of CIMT in improving the motor function of children with cerebral palsy had been proven, but the results were not provided as an instruction. Therefore, with regard to the view of experts and specialists, a specific instruction for this treatment was developed. In addition, the impact of this treatment with a sling or splint for 14 days, 6 hours a day along with occupational therapy, and physiotherapy was more.