Improvement of upper extremity motor control and function after home-based constraint induced therapy in children with unilateral cerebral palsy: immediate and long-term effects

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45 children aged 6-12 years with a diagnosis of congenital unilateral spastic cerebral palsy (CP) were randomized to either receive home-based constraint induced therapy (CIT) or traditional rehabilitation therapy. The purpose of this study was to examine and compare the neuromotor control strategies underlying functional improvement. Results indicated that although PDMS-2 grasping subscale, subtest 8 of the BOTMP, and WeeFIM self-care subscale results improved in both groups from baseline to posttreatment and follow-up at 3 months, results were significantly better in the home-based CIT group (except for BOTMP at posttreatment). Furthermore, patients in the home-based CIT demonstrated better reach-to-grasp kinematics at posttreatment and follow-up evaluations.