Constraint-induced movement therapy of upper limb of children with cerebral palsy in clinical practice: systematic review of the literature

ABSTRACT The purpose of the present study was to perform a systematic review of the literature to investigate how and with what modifications or adaptations constraint-induced movement therapy has been employed in clinical practice for therapeutic interventions in children with cerebral palsy. Searches were conducted of the CAPES (Brazilian fostering agency) periodical portal, Pubmed, Bireme, Science Direct, Scielo and PEDro databases for relevant articles published between January 2010 and May 2016. The articles retrieved were evaluated, scored and qualified by two blinded reviewers using the Physical therapy Evidence Database Scale. The searches led to the retrieval of 102 articles, 12 of which were included in the present systematic review. A table was created containing information on the study groups, inclusion criteria, intervention, intervention frequency, difficulties encountered, evaluations and outcomes. Considerable variety was found in the therapeutic intervention models. The findings of the present review demonstrate that constraint-induced movement therapy in pediatric clinical practice is not employed in its original form. Although the studies analyzed did not have a common methodology regarding the use of this type of therapy, the method has been adapted with considerable flexibility, providing promising, positive results regarding the therapeutic intervention of the paretic upper limb in children with cerebral palsy.