title: Younger Children with Cerebral Palsy Respond Better Than Older Ones to Therapist-Based Constraint-Induced Therapy at Home on Functional Outcomes and Motor Control.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  To examine the differences in efficacy of home-based constraint-induced therapy (CIT) on functional outcomes and motor control in two age groups of children with cerebral palsy (CP).
  
  
  METHODS
  Twenty-three children with spastic unilateral CP receiving 4-week home-based CIT by a therapist were divided into younger (6-8 years; n = 11) and older (9-12 years; n = 12) groups. The home-based CIT involved intensive functional training of the more affected upper-limb while restraining the less affected upper-limb. The outcome measures were Peabody Developmental Motor Scale-2nd edition (PDMS-2) that was being used in a modified way, Functional Independence Measure for Children (WeeFIM), and reach-to-grasp kinematic parameters, including reaction time (RT), normalized movement time (MT), normalized movement units (MUs), peak velocity (PV), and maximum grip aperture (MGA). The outcome measures were assessed at baseline, 4-weeks (post-treatment), 3- and 6-months (follow-up).
  
  
  RESULTS
  The younger group showed greater changes in visual motor integration skills and RT at all post-tests after intervention than the older group. Groups had comparable changes on any other measures.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Younger children with CP responded better to home-based CIT on some areas of upper-limb functions and reach-to-grasp motor control strategies than older children.
authors.affiliation: a Department of Industrial Engineering & Management , National Taipei University of Technology , Taipei , Taiwan.
authors.forename: Hsieh-ching
authors.initials: HC
authors.lastname: Chen
authors.affiliation: b Graduate Institute of Early Intervention, College of Medicine , Chang Gung University , Taoyuan , Taiwan.
authors.forename: Lin-ju
authors.initials: LJ
authors.lastname: Kang
authors.affiliation: b Graduate Institute of Early Intervention, College of Medicine , Chang Gung University , Taoyuan , Taiwan.|c Physical Medicine and Rehabilitation , Chang Gung Memorial Hospital , Linkou , Taoyuan , Taiwan.
authors.forename: Chia-ling
authors.initials: CL
authors.lastname: Chen
authors.affiliation: d School of Occupational Therapy, College of Medicine, National Taiwan University and Division of Occupational Therapy, Department of Physical Medicine and Rehabilitation , National Taiwan University Hospital , Taipei , Taiwan.
authors.forename: Keh-chung
authors.initials: KC
authors.lastname: Lin
authors.affiliation: e Buddhist Tzu Chi General Hospital , Xindian, New Taipei City , Taiwan.
authors.forename: Fei-chuan
authors.initials: FC
authors.lastname: Chen
authors.affiliation: c Physical Medicine and Rehabilitation , Chang Gung Memorial Hospital , Linkou , Taoyuan , Taiwan.|f Department of Traditional Chinese Medicine, College of Medicine , Chang Gung University , Taoyuan , Taiwan.
authors.forename: Katie P H
authors.initials: KP
authors.lastname: Wu
mesh_terms: D000367:Age Factors; D001696:Biomechanical Phenomena; D002547:Cerebral Palsy / Q000534:rehabilitation*; D002648:Child; D005081:Exercise Therapy / Q000379:methods*; D005260:Female; D018737:Hand Strength; D006699:Home Care Services; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D009048:Motor Skills / Q000502:physiology*; D012149:Restraint, Physical / Q000379:methods*; D016896:Treatment Outcome; D034941:Upper Extremity / Q000503:physiopathology
keywords: Age; cerebral palsy; constraint-induced therapy; functional outcomes; motor control