[helentheresa]

Hello I have been interested in constraint induced therapy for a while now, I have read really positive articles regarding the improvement in hand function; but I can't find anywhere in the UK that practices this? Can any one point me in the right direction? I was looking for an intensive block of therapy as these seem to have the best out come.
I look forward to hearing from anyone who has any information.

Thanks
Helen

[JoRose]

Hello Helen,

My son is about to enter clinical trials for constraint induced therapy for preschool children affected by hemiplegia. As far as I am aware, this is the only large scale study for CIT in children this young in this country. The trial is running through the University of Birmingham but I know that they are looking further afield to recruit suitable subjects. How old is your child? What area of the country are you in? I can ask my trial coordinator for some information relevant to you if you like; I'm sure she's on the ball where CIT in the UK is concerned.

Kind regards,

Jo.

[helentheresa]

Hello Jo,

thank you for replying. I would be very interested to hear more about the trial in Birmingham, I live in London and my son is 4, he will start school next week.

Maybe I could give you my email and the trial co ordinator could contact me? If we were not eligible for this trial maybe she could recommend some other organisations that I could contact.

I will be very keen to hear how your son gets on in the trial. My email is helentngaffney@hotmail.com


Thanks again
Helen

[JoRose]

I will pass on your e-mail address and hopefully she will have some information that might be useful to you. I will certainly keep you informed of my son's progress in the trial - he has his plaster fitted next Thursday.

Speak soon,

Jo.

[Twin girls]

JoRose, on 01 September 2011 - 09:20 AM, said:

Hello Helen,

My son is about to enter clinical trials for constraint induced therapy for preschool children affected by hemiplegia. As far as I am aware, this is the only large scale study for CIT in children this young in this country. The trial is running through the University of Birmingham but I know that they are looking further afield to recruit suitable subjects. How old is your child? What area of the country are you in? I can ask my trial coordinator for some information relevant to you if you like; I'm sure she's on the ball where CIT in the UK is concerned.

Kind regards,

Jo.

Hi Jo

I think i just sent you pm, although my computer went a bit funny and im not sure it went through?! I would be really grateful if you could send me the contact number/name of person at birmingham university please. We actually in birmingham and are not aware of this trial, we are really interested in CIT and i have been trying to get my daughter this type of therapy so i would be really grateful for this contact. thanks so much

[Louise & Harry]

Hi, we took part in the Birmingham trial a few months ago, unfortunatly we didn't get the cast so had a lot of frustrating weeks or manually holding Harry's hand! Although even the smallest amount of 'maual therapy' did make a difference and he definately uses his 'bad' arm/hand more readily, it seemed more about a constant routine, cause after the first few weeks, he'd sit for dinner and say 'I'll use my right hand' without us even needing to promt him.

I think this particular trial was aimed at pre-school children so it wouldn't interfer with any school work, but the overall aim is to see whether they should be offering this as a routine therapy or all children with hemi.

We have been offered to try out the cast in January. It was a bit of a deal breaker for me, they said if I completly the manuel restraint trial, Harry would have the chance to try the cast, so we persevered. I suggest ask your OT or Physio as this trial has bought CIT to the attention of lots of therapists, they may be willing to try it.

Lou x

[Twin girls]

Louise & Harry, on 20 September 2011 - 08:45 PM, said:

Hi, we took part in the Birmingham trial a few months ago, unfortunatly we didn't get the cast so had a lot of frustrating weeks or manually holding Harry's hand! Although even the smallest amount of 'maual therapy' did make a difference and he definately uses his 'bad' arm/hand more readily, it seemed more about a constant routine, cause after the first few weeks, he'd sit for dinner and say 'I'll use my right hand' without us even needing to promt him.

I think this particular trial was aimed at pre-school children so it wouldn't interfer with any school work, but the overall aim is to see whether they should be offering this as a routine therapy or all children with hemi.

We have been offered to try out the cast in January. It was a bit of a deal breaker for me, they said if I completly the manuel restraint trial, Harry would have the chance to try the cast, so we persevered. I suggest ask your OT or Physio as this trial has bought CIT to the attention of lots of therapists, they may be willing to try it.

Lou x

Hi Lou

thanks for your reply, we were all geared up 2/3 years ago to do it, but we moved house within birmingham, but crossed the county border so were under worcester.....and they wont touch CIT at all for some reason. Thats why i was interested in this trial as it was taking children from different countys.

thats great news that your son responded so positively to it, would you have a contact name/number for the trial co-odinator at bham uni at all?

thanks
x

[Louise & Harry]

Of course, I'll have a look for the paperwork this evening as I've put it in a 'safe place'

I think they were taking people from all over the country to do the trial as we are in Bromley, Kent so not really anywhere near Birmingham.

[dani24]

hi there,
my CDU done a six week run of it here, we atteneded a few weeks but my little lady hated it. but basically we used mitten and put piece of hard card in that couldnt be bent easily,placed on affected had with ribbon tied round top to stop it being pulled off easily, and then child made to play and do various toys etc just using affected hand, we didnt see much result in this thou, althou do encourage use with affected hand so do nursery but she is very reluctant xx

[Nick]

Hi everyone

I am a children's physiotherapist working in research. The most up to date research for CIMT shows a benefit for for children, but the fundamental principle of this treatment is the intensity of additional therapy on the more affected arm. By intensity, I mean that the children receiving CIMT wore a plaster cast or restraint 24/7 for at least 3 weeks, and also received a minimum of 3 hours of functional exercise a day, 5 days a week.

A systematic review (a scientific and methodical exclusion of poor studies and examination of the best studies) in 2007 points out that there are only poor quality studies conducted so far, but that there is evidence for its benefits; however it really is still an experimental treatment.

Hope this helps
Nick

[supergeek]

Hi

deleted

[helentheresa]

Hello Nick. do you know anywhere in theUK that does an intensive course of CBT.

Thanks
Helen

Nick, on 28 October 2011 - 03:10 PM, said:

Hi everyone

I am a children's physiotherapist working in research. The most up to date research for CIMT shows a benefit for for children, but the fundamental principle of this treatment is the intensity of additional therapy on the more affected arm. By intensity, I mean that the children receiving CIMT wore a plaster cast or restraint 24/7 for at least 3 weeks, and also received a minimum of 3 hours of functional exercise a day, 5 days a week.

A systematic review (a scientific and methodical exclusion of poor studies and examination of the best studies) in 2007 points out that there are only poor quality studies conducted so far, but that there is evidence for its benefits; however it really is still an experimental treatment.

Hope this helps
Nick

[Nick]

Hi Helen

Sorry for the delay in replying, I hadn't been on the forum.

The attempts by therapy departments to incorporate CIMT vary from area to area. I think this is down to the difficulty of providing the intensity of therapy required, and this is only getting worse at the moment because of the austerity measures: teams are having to "make do" with fewer and fewer therapists. Given that CIMT is still classed as an experimental therapy, it is hard for teams to justify the such expenditure of resources on it. However, the therapy team at my last clinical post were starting to look at CIMT so perhaps it is making some ground.

Have you discussed it with your therapist? If CIMT was done as a group workshop during, say, the Easter or summer holidays, then it would be easier to justify. Other than that, I can't recommend anywhere. If I come across anywhere or have any suggestions, I will post them here.

Best wishes
Nick

helentheresa, on 20 November 2011 - 12:24 PM, said:

Hello Nick. do you know anywhere in theUK that does an intensive course of CBT.

Thanks
Helen