Modified Constraint Induced Movement Therapy for children with ABI

  • Research type

    Research Study

  • Full title

    Is Modified Constraint Induced Movement Therapy a feasible intervention for children with Acquired Brian Injury accessing a residential rehabilitation program?

  • IRAS ID

    164990

  • Contact name

    Lorna Wales

  • Contact email

    lwales@thechildrenstrust.org.uk

  • Duration of Study in the UK

    0 years, 11 months, 27 days

  • Research summary

    The research will involve implementing a modified Constraint- Induced Movement Therapy (mCIMT) program for children/young people with unilateral upper limb impairment as a result of an acquired brain injury (ABI). The children/young people will be recruited from those accessing a residential rehabilitation program at The Children's Trust. They may have a brain injury as a result of an accident, illness (such as meningitis) or a brain tumour and will be on a residential rehabilitation programme for approximately 6 months. The children/young people will have some amount of movement and may be walking or in a manual wheelchair. They may have some cognitive and communication difficulties but have sufficient ability to fully engage in therapy sessions.

    Children/young people with a unilateral upper limb impairment are able to use one arm fully (unaffected) but have difficulty moving their other arm (affected). mCIMT involves stopping the child/young person using their unaffected upper limb (constraint) and "force" them to use the affected limb. A mitt is commonly applied during intense, repetitive practice of upper limb activities, in order to encourage functional use of the affected upper limb.The children/young people are in a residential rehabilitation programme with a full day timetable of therapy and education sessions. Each child/young person's upper limb programme will be incorporated into their existing rehabilitation programme. The upper limb activities will be carried out for one hour a day, five days a week for two weeks in therapy sessions and on their temporary residential house using home programmes. The intervention will be carried out by a qualified therapist, therapy assistants, the child/young person's parent or care support staff.

  • REC name

    London - Brighton & Sussex Research Ethics Committee

  • REC reference

    15/LO/0281

  • Date of REC Opinion

    19 May 2015

  • REC opinion

    Further Information Favourable Opinion