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

Abstract

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.

• Developmental nonuse
• hemiplegia
• sensory cueing
• unilateral cerebral palsy
• upper limb task practice

Declaration of interest

This manuscript is the original work of the authors and has not been submitted for publication before. No commercial party with a direct financial interest in the results of the research supporting this article has conferred or will confer a benefit upon the authors or upon any organization with which the authors are associated.