Affiliations: [a] Department of Health Professions, Division of Occupational Therapy, Medical University of South Carolina, Charleston, SC, USA | [b] Department of Health Sciences and Research, Medical University of South Carolina, Charleston, SC, USA
Correspondence:
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Corresponding author: Patty Coker-Bolt, FAOTA Division of Occupational Therapy, Medical University of South Carolina, 151 Rutledge Ave. Charleson, SC 29425, USA. Tel.: +1 843 792 7491; E-mail:cokerpc@musc.edu
Abstract: PURPOSE: The aim of this pilot study was to determine the feasibility and
use accelerometers before, during, and after a camp-based constraint-induced
movement therapy (CIMT) program for children with hemiplegic cerebral palsy. METHODS: A pre-test post-test design was used for 12 children with CP
(mean = 4.9 yrs) who completed a 30-hour camp-based CIMT program. The
accelerometer data were collected using ActiGraph GT9X Link. Children wore
accelerometers on both wrists one day before and after the camp and on the
affected limb during each camp day. Three developmental assessments were
administered pre-post CIMT program. RESULTS: Accelerometers were successfully worn before, during, and directly
after the CIMT program to collect upper limb data.
Affected upper limb accelerometer activity significantly increased during the CIMT camp compared to baseline (p< 0.05). Significant improvements were seen in all
twelve children on all assessments of affected upper limb function (p< 0.05)
measuring capacity and quality of affected upper limb functioning. CONCLUSION: Accelerometers can be worn during high intensity pediatric CIMT
programs to collect data about affected upper limb function. Further study
is required to determine the relationship between accelerometer data,
measure of motor capacity, and real-world performance post-CIMT.
