Therapy Sessions

Constraint induced movement therapy (“CI Therapy” or “CIMT”) involves rehabilitation of the weaker arm while restraining the stronger arm in a light-weight cast.Our constraint induced movement therapy programmes are delivered at one of our clinic locations.

CIMT programmes are delivered over a 3 or 4 week period. Therapy sessions are 5 days a week, with each session lasting 3 hours.

Therapy sessions are:

On a one-to-one basis with your child and a specialist CIMT therapist. There is also a CIMT assistant present each day.
Play based. Age appropriate games and toys are used to engage the child in using their affected arm. CIMT aims to be an enjoyable experience for the child so that they associate using their affected side with positive outcomes. This helps to consolidate the learning and enforces the changes that occur.

Tailored to your child’s individual goals and abilities. Although the sessions involve play, your therapist will be directing activities in order to achieve desired movements or skills. As new skills are mastered or strength improves, the activities will become subtly more challenging.
Involve functional tasks, such as eating. Snacks provide a good break in the session but also allow for practice of eating finger foods or using cutlery. Your therapist will advise on the kinds of snacks to bring.

#CIMTFacts

What's the evidence?

CIMT has a broad range of research studies behind it. Visit our evidence base for more information.

Child learning to balance cylindic blocks on top of each other.

Parents and carers are welcome to attend all or some of the therapy sessions. We would recommend they attend the first session initially so that baseline questionnaires can be completed and the child can feel supported during the first casting.

Some parents choose to attend all sessions, others find that the child concentrates more when they leave them with the therapist. It is helpful to attend some of each session so that the therapist can demonstrate specific activities that the child should continue to practice that day.

Your therapist will use measures and tests to chart the progress of your child. They will also use video footage as we often find that changes can occur so much it is difficult to remember where the child started from! A full consent form will be completed before any video footage is taken.

Therapy sessions are designed to be fun, but can be tiring for the child. We recommend they are allowed a rest immediately following each therapy session before carrying on activities later that day in the home.

To find out more about our CIMT programmes please call 0330 223 0077 to speak to one of our CIMT therapists.

#CIMTMyths

Are the results only short term?

Research has shown changes have continued months or even years after treatment. The aim of CIMT is to produce meaningful results that are lasting.

With the new activity gained through a CIMT Programme, the affected arm can be used in day-to-day function, meaning those changes continue to be utilised. CIMT is designed to be one block of treatment with life-long gains.

Call Our Helpline Today

Call us on 0330 223 0077 or email office@cimt.co.uk to speak to one of our specialist CIMT therapists.

#CIMTFacts

Can you do CIMT one day a week?

Studies keep looking into diluted forms of CIMT. The results are never as substantial as those for 5 days a week intensity, so we stick to the evidence and only offer the programmes in full. For cortical reorganisation to occur you need prolonged focus on the affected limb – can you get that with just one session a week...?