Remind to move - A novel treatment on hemiplegic arm functions in children with unilateral cerebral palsy: A randomized cross-over study.

OBJECTIVE

To investigate the effects of 'remind to move' treatment on hemiplegic arm function in children with unilateral cerebral palsy (CP).

METHODOLOGY: Twelve students with unilateral CP aged 6-18 were recruited from a special school and randomly assigned into two groups. Participants in the experimental group underwent a 3-week sensory cueing treatment followed by a 3-week sham treatment. Participants in the waitlist group completed the sham treatment first followed by the sensory-cueing treatment. There was a 4-week washout period between treatments.

RESULTS

Both functional hand use and arm impairment level significantxly improved after the 3-week sensory cueing treatment for the combined sample between groups. However, no significant carryover effects were found for either treatment.

CONCLUSION

Three weeks of 'remind to move' treatment is useful in improving hemiplegic arm function and quantity of hand use in children with unilateral CP but the long-term carryover effect requires further investigation.