Critically Appraised Topic (CAT)

Abstract

Cerebral palsy (CP) is the most common childhood disability, with three of every 1000 births being a child with CP. Currently, 500,000 children under the age of 18 have CP. A diagnosis of cerebral palsy can affect body movement, muscle control, muscle coordination, muscle tone, posture, fine motor skills, and gross motor skills. CIMT is an innovative method of upper extremity rehabilitation for children with neuromotor impairments, such as cerebral palsy. The purpose of this analysis was to critically appraise the use of CIMT on upper extremity function for children with CP. This analysis showed that CIMT may be an effective treatment method for significant improvement in upper extremity function for children with hemiplegic CP. Further investigation is needed to determine the most effective protocol and treatment duration for CIMT.