1. Pediatric Constraint-Induced Movement Therapy: A Promising Intervention for Childhood Hemiparesis
- Author
-
Kathleen D. Brady, Scott Schultz, Frank S. Pidcock, Melissa K. Trovato, and Teressa Garcia
- Subjects
Restraint, Physical ,medicine.medical_specialty ,Adolescent ,Databases, Factual ,Pediatrics ,Young Adult ,Physical medicine and rehabilitation ,Neuroplasticity ,medicine ,Humans ,Pediatric stroke ,Young adult ,Child ,Physical Therapy Modalities ,Retrospective Studies ,Paresis ,Community and Home Care ,Clinical Trials as Topic ,Sensory stimulation therapy ,Rehabilitation ,Infant, Newborn ,Infant ,Human brain ,medicine.disease ,Constraint-induced movement therapy ,Hemiparesis ,medicine.anatomical_structure ,Child, Preschool ,Physical therapy ,Neurology (clinical) ,medicine.symptom ,Psychology - Abstract
Experimental and clinical evidence is accumulating that supports the assertion that the damaged human brain is capable of responding to sensory stimulation in a sufficient manner to result in sustainable and useful benefits. The intensity and duration of therapeutic maneuvers that elicit improvement are under active investigation. Recent studies in animals, adults, and children with hemiparesis have shown that constraint of the less involved upper limb coupled with a behavioral program that repetitively encourages graded unilateral movements can result in long-term “new” functional activities. Constraint-induced movement therapy (CIMT) is a promising approach for treatment of children with stroke-related hemiparesis from either prenatal or postnatal causes due to the enhanced neuroplasticity of the brain during early life.
- Published
- 2009
- Full Text
- View/download PDF