Hand-arm bimanual intensive therapy and daily functioning of children with bilateral cerebral palsy: a randomized controlled trial.

Aim: To examine the efficacy of Hand-Arm Bimanual Intensive Therapy (HABIT) on daily functioning, unimanual dexterity, and bimanual performance of children with bilateral cerebral palsy (CP) compared with customary care.

Method: Forty-one children with bilateral CP, aged 4 to 16 years, classified in levels I to III of the Manual Ability Classification System, were randomly assigned to HABIT (90h) (n=21) or to customary care (4.5h) (n=20). Participants' daily functioning (Pediatric Evaluation of Disability Inventory [PEDI], Canadian Occupational Performance Measure [COPM]), unimanual dexterity (Jebsen-Taylor Test of Hand Function, Box and Blocks Test [BBT]), and bimanual performance (Both Hands Assessment) were assessed pre-, post-, and 6 months after the intervention. Linear mixed-effects models were used for inferential analysis.

Results: Children participating in HABIT showed greater improvements in daily functioning (COPM : =9.50, p<0.01; COPM : =5.07, p<0.05; PEDI : =6.81, p<0.01; PEDI : =6.23, p<0.05) and in the dexterity of the dominant hand (BBT: =3.99, p<0.05) compared with children maintaining customary care. Group or time effects did not explain any variance in bimanual performance or in the dexterity of the non-dominant hand.

Interpretation: HABIT may be beneficial for children with bilateral CP, with benefits evidenced for daily functioning outcomes.

What This Paper Adds: Hand-Arm Bimanual Intensive Therapy (HABIT) improved daily functioning of children with bilateral cerebral palsy (CP). Bimanual performance, measured by the Both Hands Assessment, did not change after HABIT in children with bilateral CP. Children with asymmetric and symmetric hand use exhibited similar improvements after HABIT.