Parents' experiences with a home-based upper limb training program using a video coaching approach for infants and toddlers with unilateral cerebral palsy: a qualitative interview study.

Background: Although early home-based upper limb training programs are promising, in-depth understanding of parents' experiences with these programs is still limited. We developed an early home-based upper limb training program for infants and toddlers (8-36 months) with or at risk of unilateral cerebral palsy using video coaching for parents. The aim of this qualitative study was to evaluate parents' experiences with the home-based training program using a video coaching approach in order to optimize implementation strategies.

Lateralized EEG mu power during action observation and motor imagery in typically developing children and children with unilateral Cerebral Palsy.

Objective: During motor execution (ME), mu power is diminished over the contralateral hemisphere and increased over the ipsilateral hemisphere, which has been associated with cortical activation of the contralateral motor areas and inhibition of the ipsilateral motor areas respectively. The influence of action observation (AO) and motor imagery (MI) on mu power is less clear, especially in children, and remains to be studied in children with unilateral cerebral palsy (uCP).

Methods: We determined mu power during ME, AO, and MI of 45 typically developing (TD) children and 15 children with uCP over both hemispheres, for each hand.

The relation between mirror movements and non-use of the affected hand in children with unilateral cerebral palsy.

Aim: In children with unilateral cerebral palsy (CP), it is widely believed that mirror movements contribute to non-use of the affected hand despite preserved capacity, a phenomenon referred to as developmental disregard. We aimed to test whether mirror movements are related to developmental disregard, and to clarify the relation between mirror movements and bimanual function.

Method: A repetitive squeezing task simultaneously measuring both hands' grip-forces was developed to assess mirror movements by using maximum cross-correlation coefficient (CCC ) as well as strength measures (MM ).

Children with unilateral cerebral palsy show diminished implicit motor imagery with the affected hand.

Aim: Motor imagery refers to the mental simulation of a motor action without producing an overt movement. Implicit motor imagery can be regarded as a first-person kinesthetic perceptual judgement, and addresses the capacity to engage into the manipulation of one's body schema. In this study, we examined whether children with unilateral cerebral palsy (CP) are able to engage in implicit motor imagery.

Neglect-like characteristics of developmental disregard in children with cerebral palsy revealed by event related potentials.

Background: Children with unilateral Cerebral Palsy (CP) often show diminished awareness of the remaining capacity of their affected upper limb. This phenomenon is known as Developmental Disregard (DD). DD has been explained by operant conditioning.

Unravelling developmental disregard in children with unilateral cerebral palsy by measuring event-related potentials during a simple and complex task.

Background: In a subset of children with unilateral Cerebral Palsy (CP) a discrepancy between capacity and performance of the affected upper limb can be observed. This discrepancy is known as Developmental Disregard (DD). Though the phenomenon of DD has been well documented, its underlying cause is still under debate.

Guidelines for future research in constraint-induced movement therapy for children with unilateral cerebral palsy: an expert consensus.

Aim: The aim of this study was to provide an overview of what is known about constraintinduced movement therapy (CIMT) in children with unilateral cerebral palsy (CP), to identify current knowledge gaps, and to provide suggestions for future research.

Method: Nine experts participated in a consensus meeting. A comprehensive literature search was conducted and data were summarized before the meeting.

Assessment of upper-limb capacity, performance, and developmental disregard in children with cerebral palsy: validity and reliability of the revised Video-Observation Aarts and Aarts module: Determine Developmental Disregard (VOAA-DDD-R).

Aim: To investigate the validity and reliability of the revised Video-Observation Aarts and Aarts module: Determine Developmental Disregard (VOAA-DDD-R).

Method: Upper-limb capacity and performance were assessed in children with unilateral spastic cerebral palsy (CP) by measuring overall duration of affected upper-limb use and the frequency of specific behaviours during a task in which bimanual activity was demanded ('stringing beads') and stimulated ('decorating a muffin'). Developmental disregard was defined as the difference in duration of affected upper-limb use between both tasks.

A neurocognitive perspective on developmental disregard in children with hemiplegic cerebral palsy.

A common problem in children with hemiplegic cerebral palsy (CP) is the asymmetrical development of arm and hand capacity caused by the lack of use of the affected upper limb, or developmental disregard. In this paper, we provide a neuropsychological model that relates developmental disregard to attentional processes and motor learning. From this model, we hypothesize that high attentional demands associated with the use of the affected upper limb might hinder its use in daily life, and therefore may be a factor in developmental disregard.

The Pirate group intervention protocol: description and a case report of a modified constraint-induced movement therapy combined with bimanual training for young children with unilateral spastic cerebral palsy.

The purpose of this article was to describe a child-friendly modified constraint-induced movement therapy protocol that is combined with goal-directed task-specific bimanual training (mCIMT-BiT). This detailed description elucidates the approach and supports various research reports. This protocol is used in a Pirate play group setting and aims to extend bimanual skills in play and self-care activities for children with cerebral palsy and unilateral spastic paresis of the upper limb.

Standardized tests of handwriting readiness: a systematic review of the literature.

Aim: To establish if there are psychometrically sound standardized tests or test items to assess handwriting readiness in 5- and 6-year-old children on the levels of occupations activities/tasks and performance.

Method: Electronic databases were searched to identify measurement instruments. Tests were included in a systematic review if: (1) participants are 5 and 6 years old, (2) the focus was on handwriting readiness, and (3) the measurement was standardized.

Modified Constraint-Induced Movement Therapy combined with Bimanual Training (mCIMT-BiT) in children with unilateral spastic cerebral palsy: how are improvements in arm-hand use established?

A recent randomized controlled trial indicated that modified Constraint-Induced Movement Therapy followed by Bimanual Training (mCIMT-BiT) is an effective intervention to improve spontaneous use of the affected upper limb in children with unilateral spastic cerebral palsy (CP). The present study aimed to investigate how the above-mentioned improvements as a result of 8 weeks mCIMT-BiT were established. 52 children with unilateral spastic CP with Manual Ability Classification System (MACS) scores I, II or III and aged 2.

Effectiveness of modified constraint-induced movement therapy in children with unilateral spastic cerebral palsy: a randomized controlled trial.

Background: In children with unilateral spastic cerebral palsy (CP), there is only limited evidence for the effectiveness of modified constraint-induced movement therapy (mCIMT).

Objective: To investigate whether 6 weeks of mCIMT followed by 2 weeks of bimanual task-specific training (mCIMT-BiT) in children with unilateral spastic CP improves the spontaneous use of the affected limb in both qualitative and quantitative terms more than usual care (UC) of the same duration.

Methods: Children with unilateral spastic CP with Manual Ability Classification System (MACS) scores I, II, or III and aged 2.

Validity and reliability of the VOAA-DDD to assess spontaneous hand use with a video observation tool in children with spastic unilateral cerebral palsy.

Background: In 2003 new computer software, the VOAA (Video Observations Aarts and Aarts), was designed to score and evaluate two important aspects of spontaneous upper limb use, i.e. overall duration and frequency of specific behaviours.

A pilot study of the Video Observations Aarts and Aarts (VOAA): a new software program to measure motor behaviour in children with cerebral palsy.

A new computer software program to score video observations, Video Observations Aarts and Aarts (VOAA) was developed to evaluate paediatric occupational therapy interventions. The VOAA is an observation tool that assesses the frequency, duration and quality of arm/hand use in children, in particular those with cerebral palsy. Reliability studies show that the first module, designed to evaluate a forced-use programme, has an excellent content validity index (0.