Constraint-induced movement therapy

Children with hemiparesis often compensate for impairment in one of their arms by completing tasks one-handed. Left unaddressed, this unilateral approach to life will lead to permanent changes in brain development and decreased independence with life skills. Luckily, intensive outpatient CIMT is particularly effective in a camp setting.

Camp provides high-quality, intensive intervention of up to 40 hours of constraint induced movement therapy. A fun camp environment also increases the child's motivation through peer interactions, fun activities, and consistent encouragement and support. Children who participate in CIMT receive 1:1 attention from Reid Pediatric Occupational and Physical Therapists as well as quality time with peers.

CIMT Camp Intervention

Each CIMT movement practiced during camp is purposeful in developing function and will consistently be graded by the therapist to shape coordinated movement patterns & avoid compensatory movement patterns.

Skill areas performed during camp:

• Reaching
• Grasping
• Motor planning
• Bimanual skills
• Sensation - Tactile discrimination (stereognosis) and Body awareness (proprioception)

2023 CIMT Camp Results

Campers completed pre and post testing to assess 6 different areas of upper extremity function. The 6 areas of function include:

• Muscle tone (assessed via Modified Ashworth Scale)
• Range of motion (assessed via Goniometry)
• Strength (assessed via Dynamometer)
• Coordination (assessed via Box and Blocks Test)
• Stereognosis (assessed via standardized object identification)
• Function use & quality of use (assessed via the Assisting Hand Assessment)

At the end of camp, 8 of 10 campers measured as showing marked improvement in 5 or more of the functional areas and all 10 campers showed improvement in at least 3 of the functional areas.

Casting process - CIMT requires a custom, removable rigid cast for the child's unaffected extremity, made here at Reid's Pediatric Therapy building.

The casting material will be wrapped onto the child's arm and safely cut off. The finished cast is padded on the inside, will have a soft edge lining, and will fasten with velcro straps. The cast spans from the upper arm to past the fingertips. This prevents the child from grasping objects while still allowing the arm to move for protective responses.

• Cost: This specialized splint is billed to insurance, out of pocket costs vary per plan.
• Time: The cast is created and removed within 5 minutes.
• Method: Children may sit with their caregiver and play with a desired activity (ie. Book, Sensory toy, Ipad).