Evidence map›Paper›PMID 40150565›Full record

ArticleChildren (Basel, Switzerland)2025

Constraint Therapy with and Without Virtual Reality for Children with Unilateral Cerebral Palsy: A Randomized Trial.

Heather Roberts, Nancy J Clegg, Wayni Wang, Sydney Chapa, Briana Arellano, Madison Trahan, Fabiola Reyes, Mauricio R Delgado, Sue Ram, Angela Shierk

Abstract read
PubMed Full text at PMC Publisher
In one paragraph

Article in Children (Basel, Switzerland), 2025. The graph could read no effect estimate from its abstract, so it casts no vote on the map. Cited by 5 papers, 1 of them a synthesis that pooled it.

0numbers the graph read from it
0cells of the map it votes in
5citing papers in PubMed, 1 pooled it
–field-weighted citation impact
1 · What the graph read from it

What it found

Each row is one number read from the abstract, on the scale the paper reported it, with its interval. Left of the dashed line favours the treatment, right favours the comparator. Under each row is the sentence it came from. New to these charts? A ten-minute tutorial.

The abstract states no effect estimate the extractor could read, or names no intervention and outcome on the map, so this paper lights no cell and moves no belief. It is still indexed, cited and linked below.

2 · The registry

The trial behind it

Trials whose registry record cites this paper, or whose number appears in the abstract. A trial that started after this paper was published is citing it as background, not reporting it.

Neither the registry nor the abstract names a trial number. If this is a trial report, that itself is worth knowing.

3 · Its place in the literature

Who cites it

5 citing papers in PubMed, 1 synthesis or guideline pooled it.

  1. Pooled it
  2. Review
  3. Review
  4. Article
  5. Review
4 · The record

Corrections and comments

PubMed lists nothing against this paper. Absence here is not a guarantee, only a check that was made.

5 · Who and what money

Authors and funding

10 authors.

Heather RobertsDepartment of Occupational Therapy, Texas Woman's University, Denton, TX 76204, USA.
Nancy J CleggScottish Rite for Children, Dallas, TX 75219, USA.ORCID 0000-0002-0630-2216
Wayni WangDepartment of Occupational Therapy, Texas Woman's University, Denton, TX 76204, USA.ORCID 0000-0001-9482-9968
Sydney ChapaDepartment of Occupational Therapy, Texas Woman's University, Denton, TX 76204, USA.
Briana ArellanoDepartment of Occupational Therapy, Texas Woman's University, Denton, TX 76204, USA.
Madison TrahanDepartment of Occupational Therapy, Texas Woman's University, Denton, TX 76204, USA.
Fabiola ReyesScottish Rite for Children, Dallas, TX 75219, USA.
Mauricio R DelgadoScottish Rite for Children, Dallas, TX 75219, USA.ORCID 0000-0003-1855-8654
Sue RamDepartment of Occupational Therapy, Texas Woman's University, Denton, TX 76204, USA.
Angela ShierkScottish Rite for Children, Dallas, TX 75219, USA.ORCID 0000-0001-9813-6659

Funding

This research was funded by The Grainger Foundation, Hawk Incentives, and the Kappa Kappa Gamma Dallas Alumnae Association, which underwrote the annual CIMT camp, equipment, tools, and materials. The APC was funded by Scottish Rite for Children. N/A
6 · The paper itself

Abstract

BACKGROUND/

objectivesCerebral palsy (CP) is the most common childhood motor disorder, with unilateral cerebral palsy (UCP) presenting with asymmetrical motor function that can cause decreased upper limb function. Constraint-Induced Movement Therapy (CIMT) is an evidence-based intervention that addresses upper limb functional limitations, but further study on combining interventions with CIMT is warranted. Combining CIMT with virtual reality (VR) is hypothesized to enhance engagement and therapeutic outcomes. This study compared the effectiveness of CIMT alone versus CIMT combined with VR (CIMT + VR) in improving upper limb function and occupational performance in children with UCP.

methodsA blinded, randomized, controlled trial included children aged 5-13 years with Manual Ability Classification System (MACS) levels I-III. The participants were randomized into CIMT or CIMT + VR groups and completed a standardized 10-day camp protocol (60 h). Pre-intervention and post-intervention assessments included the Assisting Hand Assessment (AHA) and the Canadian Occupational Performance Measure (COPM). Secondary measures included acceptability ratings of VR devices and fidelity.

resultsThirty-two participants, with a mean age of 9 years and 3 months (3 years 1 month), MACS I = 4, II = 20, and III = 8, completed this study. CIMT and CIMT + VR led to significant improvements in upper limb function, with no statistically significant differences between the groups in bilateral hand use and occupational performance.

conclusionsThese findings reinforce the efficacy of CIMT while highlighting the potential of VR to enhance engagement when the child prefers to interact with the technology, underscoring the importance of individualized approaches that consider a child's preferences and responsiveness to different intervention modalities.

Indexed as

cerebral palsydevelopmental disabilitieshealthcare equity

Identifiers

PMID40150565
PMCPMC11940840

What OpenQuestion holds

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LicenceCC BY
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Registered trials

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Read under generation 80e0d062 · epoch 390. Bibliography from PubMed, PubMed Central and OpenAlex; grants from NIH RePORTER; trial links from ClinicalTrials.gov; estimates, votes and beliefs from the OpenQuestion graph.