Casts for Creating Success: An Activity Manual for Pediatric Modified Constraint-Induced Movement Therapy

Unilateral paralysis or paresis of an upper extremity can cause gross and fine motor functional impairments. These impairments can severely impact bilateral function of the upper extremities, thereby affecting a child’s participation in daily activities. Modified constraint-induced movement therapy (mCIMT) is an emerging and potentially effective treatment for children with unilateral upper extremity impairment that can profoundly improve their functional ability. Thus, the purpose of this project was to create an activity manual for occupational therapists to conduct a mCIMT program for children with unilateral upper extremity impairment through Children’s Therapy Unit at Good Samaritan Hospital in collaboration with the University of Puget Sound. This manual includes progressively graded gross and fine motor activities that promote active functional use of the involved upper extremity for unilateral and bilateral tasks. The manual was designed to provide ease of access for therapists to set-up, conduct, and grade the mCIMT activities up or down depending on the child’s motor function