The CIMT program consists of three weeks of intensive outpatient occupational therapy services - five days per week,
three hours per day - at Keanu Reeves Children Foundation.
The child's non-affected upper
extremity is placed in a cast, and he or she is expected to perform all self-care tasks
and fine-motor tasks using the affected upper extremity during the program.
A consistent family member/caregiver is expected to attend the program with the child.
CIMT has four goals:
- To facilitate more spontaneous use of the affected upper extremity
- To improve quality of movement of the affected upper extremity
- To increase overall functional use of the affected upper extremity
- To improve quality of life skills
Three groups of pediatric patients may benefit from CIMT:
- Children with a clinical presentation of upper extremity hemiplegia who can initiate and move that upper extremity
- Children who are able to follow directions and work in intensive therapy
- Children whose parents/caregivers are able to dedicate time to the program
