A balancing act: children's experience of modified constraint-induced movement therapy.

OBJECTIVE

This qualitative study explored the experiences of children participating in modified constraint-induced movement therapy (CIMT) within a circus-themed day camp.

METHODS

Individual semi-structured interviews were performed with 32 children (15 girls, 17 boys; mean age 10.1 years) to gain insights into their experience of CIMT. Interviews were audio recorded, transcribed verbatim and independently read by two authors to identify common themes.

RESULTS

Three themes emerged from the data: children's experience of wearing the glove employed in the modified CIMT, their reactions to the camp format and the gains they made during the camp.

CONCLUSION

The results highlighted the need to achieve a balance between the frustration of participating in modified CIMT and what was seen as motivators to sustain involvement. Findings are interpreted in the context of self-determination theory and remind clinicians to ensure interventions consider autonomy, competence and relatedness.