title: Short- and long-term effects of synchronized metronome training in children with hemiplegic cerebral palsy: a two case study.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  Children with cerebral palsy (CP) require individualized long-term management to maintain and improve motor functions. The objective of this study was to explore potential effects of synchronized metronome training (SMT) on movement kinematics in two children diagnosed with spastic hemiplegic CP (HCP).
  
  
  METHODS
  Both children underwent 4-weeks/12 sessions of SMT by means of the Interactive Metronome (IM). Optoelectronic registrations of goal-directed uni- and bimanual upper-limb movements were made at three occasions; pre-training, post completed training and at 6-months post completed training.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Significant changes in kinematic outcomes following IM training were found for both cases. Findings included smoother and shorter movement trajectories in the bimanual condition, especially for the affected side. In the unimanual condition, Case I also showed increased smoothness of the non-affected side.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  The observed short- and long-term effects on the spatio-temporal organization of upper-limb movements need to be corroborated and extended by further case-control studies.
authors.affiliation: Department of Psychology, Umeå University, Umeå, Sweden. anna-maria.johansson@psy.umu.se
authors.forename: Anna-Maria
authors.initials: AM
authors.lastname: Johansson
authors.forename: Erik
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Domellöf
authors.forename: Louise
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Rönnqvist
mesh_terms: D000293:Adolescent; D001696:Biomechanical Phenomena; D002547:Cerebral Palsy / Q000534:rehabilitation*; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D009048:Motor Skills; D009068:Movement; D026741:Physical Therapy Modalities