title: Effect of forced use therapy on posture in children with hemiplegic cerebral palsy: a pilot study.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  To evaluate the impact of forced use therapy on posture in children with hemiplegic cerebral palsy.
  
  
  METHODS
  Single group pre- and post-training assessments.
  
  
  METHODS
  Eight children (mean age 10.5 years (standard deviation 1.26 years)) with hemiplegic cerebral palsy Levels I and II on the gross motor function classification scale.
  
  
  METHODS
  All participants underwent 12 days (6 h/day) of forced use therapy. Postural asymmetry as well as the  centre of pressure range and peak velocity during quiet standing were evaluated before and after the therapy. Upper limb functional level was also assessed using the Bruininks  Oseretsky test of Motor Proficiency and the Assisting Hand Assessment.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Before forced use therapy, postural asymmetry tended to decrease when the participants wore the upper limb constraint. After forced use therapy, upper limb functional scores improved significantly, and postural asymmetry tended to decrease, compared with the pre-therapy values. Postural improvement was correlated with postural asymmetry before forced use therapy. No significant differences were observed on the centre of pressure displacement parameters during the quiet standing tests in all conditions.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  This pilot study showed that forced use therapy may be an efficient way to improve postural asymmetry in children with hemiplegic cerebral palsy.
authors.affiliation: Centre de Réadaptation Marie Enfant, CHU Sainte Justine, Montréal, Québec, Canada. laurent.ballaz@gmail.com
authors.forename: Laurent
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Ballaz
authors.forename: Anne-Fabienne
authors.initials: AF
authors.lastname: Huffenus
authors.forename: Céline
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Lamarre
authors.forename: Louise
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Koclas
authors.forename: Martin
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Lemay
mesh_terms: D002547:Cerebral Palsy / Q000503:physiopathology / Q000534:rehabilitation* / Q000628:therapy; D002648:Child; D005081:Exercise Therapy / Q000379:methods*; D005260:Female; D006225:Hand; D006429:Hemiplegia / Q000503:physiopathology / Q000534:rehabilitation* / Q000628:therapy; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D009048:Motor Skills; D010865:Pilot Projects; D011187:Posture; D011312:Pressure; D012149:Restraint, Physical; D034941:Upper Extremity / Q000503:physiopathology*