title: Multicenter randomized controlled trial of pediatric constraint-induced movement therapy: 6-month follow-up.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  Pediatric constraint-induced movement therapy (CIMT) is a promising intervention for children with unilateral cerebral palsy (CP). This multisite randomized controlled trial (RCT) tested the hypothesis that 6 hr versus 3 hr per day for 21 days would produce larger maintenance of gains 6 mo posttreatment.
  
  
  METHODS
  Three sites recruited 18 children (6 per site) ages 3-6 yr with unilateral CP. Children were randomly assigned 3 to 6 hr/day of CIMT for 21 days and wore a cast on the unaffected extremity the first 18 days. Occupational therapists applied a standardized pediatric CIMT protocol. Evaluators blinded to condition administered the ASsisted Hand Assessment and the Quality of Upper Extremity Skills Test, and parents completed the Pediatric Motor Activity Log pre- and posttreatment (1 wk, 1 mo, and 6 mo).
  
  
  RESULTS
  Both CIMT dosage groups showed significant gains on all five assessments with no significant group differences at 6 mo follow-up. Effect sizes (n = 15) comparing preintervention to postintervention measures (partial η2) ranged from .33 to .80.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  The first multisite RCT of pediatric CIMT confirmed the maintenance of positive effects at 6 mo follow-up across multiple functional performance measures. The hypothesis that maintenance of effects would differ for children who received 6 versus 3 hr/day of CIMT (126 vs. 63 total hr) was not supported.
authors.affiliation: Occupational Therapy Division, Ohio State University, 406 Atwell Hall, 453 West 10th Avenue, Columbus, OH 43210, USA. Jane.Case-Smith@osumc.edu
authors.forename: Jane
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Case-Smith
authors.forename: Stephanie C
authors.initials: SC
authors.lastname: DeLuca
authors.forename: Richard
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Stevenson
authors.forename: Sharon Landesman
authors.initials: SL
authors.lastname: Ramey
mesh_terms: D002547:Cerebral Palsy / Q000534:rehabilitation*; D002648:Child; D002675:Child, Preschool; D026241:Exercise Movement Techniques; D005260:Female; D005500:Follow-Up Studies; D007839:Functional Laterality; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D009048:Motor Skills / Q000502:physiology; D009788:Occupational Therapy; D012149:Restraint, Physical; D016896:Treatment Outcome