title: Modified constraint-induced therapy for children with hemiplegic cerebral palsy: a feasibility study.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  To determine the feasibility of family-focused, modified constraint-induced therapy with children with hemiplegic cerebral palsy and test study procedures in preparation for a randomized controlled trail.
  
  
  METHODS
  Prospective pre-post feasibility study.
  
  
  METHODS
  Ten children (median age: 3 years 6 months) were assessed at baseline, at completion of intervention and at 6 months post-baseline. Intervention consisted of a mitt worn on the unaffected hand for 2 hours per day for 8 weeks. Targeted adjunct therapy was provided during the time the mitt was worn. Primary assessments included the Canadian Occupational Performance Measure, Goal Attainment Scaling, Assisting Hand Assessment and the Melbourne Assessment of Unilateral Upper Limb Function.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Modified constraint-induced therapy as implemented in this study was acceptable to participants. Over the intervention period, participants experienced improvements in the performance of important daily activities as determined by the primary outcome measures.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Modified constraint-induced therapy which targets participant-identified goals and which is family-focused warrants further investigation utilizing randomized trial methodology.
authors.affiliation: Occupational Therapy Department, The Children's Hospital at Westmead, Sydney, Australia. margarew@chw.edu.au
authors.forename: Margaret
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Wallen
authors.forename: Jenny
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Ziviani
authors.forename: Rob
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Herbert
authors.forename: Ruth
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Evans
authors.forename: Iona
authors.initials: I
authors.lastname: Novak
mesh_terms: D002547:Cerebral Palsy / Q000150:complications / Q000534:rehabilitation*; D002648:Child; D002675:Child, Preschool; D005240:Feasibility Studies; D005260:Female; D006429:Hemiplegia / Q000209:etiology / Q000534:rehabilitation*; D006801:Humans; D007103:Immobilization / Q000379:methods*; D007223:Infant; D007231:Infant, Newborn; D008297:Male; D009068:Movement; D011446:Prospective Studies; D016896:Treatment Outcome; D034941:Upper Extremity