Neuroimaging Predictors of Constraint Induced Movement Therapy (CIMT)
In this study, children participated in CIMT intervention for a period of three weeks. During the first week, the child will wear a cast below their elbow on their stronger arm. In the second and third weeks, the child will participate in a CIMT camp during which they will wear a constraint splint on their stronger hand. During the CIMT camp, the children will be involved in activities that focus on their hemiplegic hand and start to increase using both hands. We would like to investigate the degree of functional changes and how long the effects of CIMT last. In 2012-2013, 18 children aged 6 to 16 years with hemiplegic CP were invited to participate at a CIMT summer camp at Holland Bloorview Kids Rehabilitation Hospital (HBKRH) and McMaster’s Children Hospital. The purpose of this study was to investigate whether there are brain imaging predictors of improvement in hand functioning using MRI 1 month and 6 months after receiving CIMT. The children started by completing fMRI scans before receiving CIMT. During the fMRI scan, children were asked to flex their wrists and sensors were attached to their arms to track their movements. We compared each child’s hand functioning before and after receiving CIMT, as well as compared their hand functioning to other children with hemiplegic CP who have not received CIMT.