Claudio L. Ferre

Bimanual Training and Constraint-Induced Movement Therapy in Children With Hemiplegic Cerebral Palsy: A Randomized Trial

Background. Constraint-induced movement therapy (CIMT) promotes hand function using intensive unimanual practice along with restraint of the less-affected hand. CIMT has not been compared with a treatment with equivalent dosing frequency and intensity in children with cerebral palsy (CP). Objectives. The authors report a randomized trial comparing CIMT and a bimanual intervention (hand-arm intensive bimanual therapy; HABIT) that maintains the intensity of practice associated with CIMT but where children are engaged in functional bimanual tasks. Methods. A total of 42 participants with hemiplegic CP between the ages of 3.5 and 10 years (matched for age and hand function) were randomized to receive 90 hours of CIMT or an equivalent dosage of functional bimanual training (HABIT) conducted in day-camp environments. A physical therapist blinded to treatment allocation tested hand function before and after treatment. The primary outcomes were changes in Jebsen-Taylor Test of Hand Function (JTTHF) and Assisting Hand Assessment (AHA) scores. Secondary measures included the Goal Attainment Scale (GAS). Results. Both the CIMT and HABIT groups demonstrated comparable improvement from the pretest to immediate posttest in the JTTHF and AHA (P < .0001), which were maintained at 6 months. GAS, however, revealed greater progress toward goals for the HABIT group (P < .0001), with continued improvement across test sessions for both groups (P < .0001). Conclusions. Both CIMT and bimanual training lead to similar improvements in hand function. A potential benefit of bimanual training is that participants may improve more on self-determined goals.

Skilled Bimanual Training Drives Motor Cortex Plasticity in Children With Unilateral Cerebral Palsy.

Background. Intensive bimanual therapy can improve hand function in children with unilateral spastic cerebral palsy (USCP). We compared the effects of structured bimanual skill training versus unstructured bimanual practice on motor outcomes and motor map plasticity in children with USCP. Objective. We hypothesized that structured skill training would produce greater motor map plasticity than unstructured practice. Methods. Twenty children with USCP (average age 9.5; 12 males) received therapy in a day camp setting, 6 h/day, 5 days/week, for 3 weeks. In structured skill training (n = 10), children performed progressively more difficult movements and practiced functional goals. In unstructured practice (n = 10), children engaged in bimanual activities but did not practice skillful movements or functional goals. We used the Assisting Hand Assessment (AHA), Jebsen-Taylor Test of Hand Function (JTTHF), and Canadian Occupational Performance Measure (COPM) to measure hand function. We used single-pulse transcranial magnetic stimulation to map the representation of first dorsal interosseous and flexor carpi radialis muscles bilaterally. Results. Both groups showed significant improvements in bimanual hand use (AHA; P < .05) and hand dexterity (JTTHF; P < .001). However, only the structured skill group showed increases in the size of the affected hand motor map and amplitudes of motor evoked potentials (P < .01). Most children who showed the most functional improvements (COPM) had the largest changes in map size. Conclusions. These findings uncover a dichotomy of plasticity: the unstructured practice group improved hand function but did not show changes in motor maps. Skill training is important for driving motor cortex plasticity in children with USCP.

Comparison of Structured Skill and Unstructured Practice During Intensive Bimanual Training in Children With Unilateral Spastic Cerebral Palsy

Background. High-intensity training aims to improve hand function in children with unilateral spastic cerebral palsy (USCP). However, the extent to which skill training is required is not known. Objectives. To compare the effects of intensive bimanual training with and without structured progression of skill difficulty, on manual dexterity, bimanual hand use, daily functioning, and functional goals in children with USCP. Method. Twenty-two children were randomized to structured practice group (SPG) or unstructured practice group (UPG), and received 6 h/d training during 15 days. Children from the SPG were engaged in fine and gross motor bimanual activities, with skill progression and goal training. Children from UPG performed the same activities without skill progression or goal training. Participants were evaluated before, immediately and 6 months after training by a physical therapist blinded to group allocation. The primary outcomes were the Jebsen-Taylor Test of Hand Function (JTTHF) and Assisting Hand Assessment (AHA). Secondary outcomes included the Canadian Occupational Performance Measure (COPM), Pediatric Evaluation of Disability Inventory (PEDI), and ABILHAND-Kids. Results. Both groups showed similar improvements in the JTTHF, AHA, ABILHAND-Kids, COPM-satisfaction, and PEDI (P < .05). A significant interaction in the COPM-performance scale (P = .03) showed superior improvements of the SPG immediately, but not 6 months, after the intervention. Conclusions: Children from both groups demonstrated improvements in dexterity and functional hand use. This suggests that for intensive bimanual approaches, intensive training at such high doses may not require structured practice to elicit improvements. However, there may be immediate added benefit of including goal training.

Efficacy of constraint-induced movement therapy and bimanual training in children with hemiplegic cerebral palsy in an educational setting.

ABSTRACT We examined the efficacy of modified constraint-induced movement therapy (CIMT) and hand-arm bimanual intensive therapy (HABIT) in a special education preschool/kindergarten in Israel. Twelve children (1.5–7 years) with congenital hemiplegic cerebral palsy were randomized to receive modified CIMT (n = 6) or HABIT (n = 6). Occupational and physical therapists administered usual and customary care for 8 weeks; children then crossed over to receive CIMT or HABIT 2 hr/day, 6 days/week for 8 weeks from their occupational therapist. The Assisting Hand Assessment and Quality of Upper Extremity Skills Test were administered 2 months prior to the intervention, immediately before, immediately after intervention, and 6 months after the first baseline assessment. Both groups demonstrated no change during baseline and comparable improvement following CIMT and HABIT (p < .001), which was maintained at 6-month follow-up. Results suggest that modified CIMT and HABIT provided in school-based settings can lead to improvements in quality of bimanual skill and movement patterns.

Feasibility of caregiver-directed home-based hand-arm bimanual intensive training: a brief report.

Abstract Objective: To determine feasibility of a home-based, intensive bimanual intervention with children with unilateral spastic cerebral palsy. Methods: Eleven children (aged 29–54 months) received 90 hours of home hand-arm bimanual intensive therapy (H-HABIT) provided by their trained caregivers. Parenting stress levels and compliance were monitored using the Parenting Stress Index and daily logs. Quality of bimanual performance and changes in performance/satisfaction of functional goals were assessed using the Assisting Hand Assessment (AHA) and Canadian Occupational Performance Measure (COPM), respectively, at two pretreatment baseline sessions and two posttreatment sessions (immediate and six months). Results: Ten children completed the study with caregivers completing on average 85.6 hours of H-HABIT. Daily logs indicated high caregiver compliance. Stress levels remained stable across the intervention. Children demonstrated significant improvements in the AHA and COPM. Conclusion: H-HABIT is a feasible intervention for improving hand function and merits further investigation in a randomized-control trial.

Does Corticospinal Tract Connectivity Influence the Response to Intensive Bimanual Therapy in Children With Unilateral Cerebral Palsy

Background. Reorganization of the corticospinal tract (CST) can occur in unilateral spastic cerebral palsy (USCP). The affected hand can be controlled via (1) typical contralateral projections from the lesioned hemisphere, (2) ipsilateral projections from the nonlesioned hemisphere, and (3) a combination of contralateral and ipsilateral projections (ie, bilateral). Intensive bimanual therapy and constraint-induced movement therapy (CIMT) improve hand function of children with USCP. Earlier it was suggested that the CST connectivity pattern may influence the efficacy of CIMT. Objective. To examine whether CST projection pattern influences the efficacy of intensive bimanual therapy in children with USCP. Participants. Thirty-three children with USCP (age 8.9 ± 2.6 years, 16 females). Methods. Bimanual therapy was provided in a day-camp setting (90 hours). Participants were involved in different bimanual play and functional activities actively engaging both hands. Hand function was tested before and after the intervention with the Jebsen-Taylor Test of Hand Function, Assisting Hand Assessment, ABILHAND-Kids, and the Canadian Occupational Performance Measure. Single-pulse transcranial magnetic stimulation (TMS) was used to determine each child’s CST projection pattern (ie, ipsilateral, contralateral, or bilateral). Results. Children whose affected hand was controlled only by ipsilateral CST projections had worse Jebsen-Taylor Test of Hand Function and Assisting Hand Assessment scores than children in the contralateral group at baseline. Bimanual hand use and functional hand use was independent of CST projection pattern. After bimanual therapy, improvements on all outcome measures were observed, and these improvements were independent of the CST connectivity pattern. Conclusion. The efficacy of bimanual therapy on hand function in children with USCP appears to be independent of CST connectivity pattern.

Caregiver-directed home-based intensive bimanual training in young children with unilateral spastic cerebral palsy: a randomized trial

To examine the efficacy of caregiver‐directed, home‐based intensive bimanual training in children with unilateral spastic cerebral palsy (USCP) using a randomized control trial.

Using diffusion tensor imaging to identify corticospinal tract projection patterns in children with unilateral spastic cerebral palsy.

To determine whether diffusion tensor imaging (DTI) can be an independent assessment for identifying the corticospinal tract (CST) projecting from the more‐affected motor cortex in children with unilateral spastic cerebral palsy (CP).

Effect of sensory and motor connectivity on hand function in pediatric hemiplegia

We tested the hypothesis that somatosensory system injury would more strongly affect movement than motor system injury in children with unilateral cerebral palsy (USCP). This hypothesis was based on how somatosensory and corticospinal circuits adapt to injury during development; whereas the motor system can maintain connections to the impaired hand from the uninjured hemisphere, this does not occur in the somatosensory system. As a corollary, cortical injury strongly impairs sensory function, so we hypothesized that cortical lesions would impair hand function more than subcortical lesions.

The Relationship Between Hand Function and Overlapping Motor Representations of the Hands in the Contralesional Hemisphere in Unilateral Spastic Cerebral Palsy

Background. In many children with unilateral spastic cerebral palsy (USCP), the corticospinal tract to the affected hand atypically originates in the hemisphere ipsilateral to the affected hand. Such ipsilateral connectivity is on average a predictor of poor hand function. However, there is high variability in hand function in these children, which might be explained by the complexity of motor representations of both hands in the contralesional hemisphere. Objective. To measure the link between hand function and the size and excitability of motor representations of both hands, and their overlap, in the contralesional hemisphere of children with USCP. Methods. We used single-pulse transcranial magnetic stimulation to measure the size and excitability of motor representations of both hands, and their overlap, in the contralesional hemisphere of 50 children with USCP. We correlated these measures with manual dexterity of the affected hand, bimanual performance, and mirror movement strength. Results. The main and novel findings were (1) the large overlap in contralesional motor representations of the 2 hands and (2) the moderate positive associations of the size and excitability of such shared-site representations with hand function. Such functional associations were not present for overall size and excitability of representations of the affected hand. Conclusions. Greater relative overlap of the affected hand representation with the less-affected hand representation within the contralesional hemisphere was associated with better hand function. This association suggests that overlapping representations might be adaptively “yoked,” such that cortical control of the child’s less-affected hand supports that of the affected hand.