Children’s Therapy TEAM’s Constraint Induced (CI) Mobility Camp serves children affected by hemiplegia. Hemiplegia is caused by injury to the brain. In some cases, hemiplegia is a congenital condition and in other cases, it is acquired. Hemiplegia results in impaired movement on one side of the body or the other. The two-week long camp offers an opportunity for kids with hemiplegia, who completed a 4-6 week Intensive CI Program earlier in the year, an opportunity to further enhance mobility in a fun and playful summer camp atmosphere.
The CI Mobility Camp uses protocols, developed by Children’s Therapy TEAM, based on CI Movement Therapy and Bilateral Intensive Training/Treatment (BIT). The camp, directed by veteran occupational therapist Julie Marvin, offers children an opportunity to participate in activities to improve self-care skills, strength, coordination and the use of their arm, hand, and fingers as well as the use of both hands together.
Currently the only program of its kind in Northwest Arkansas, the Constraint Induced (CI) Mobility Camp offers children an opportunity to make important functional gains. CI Movement Therapy is based on years of research that has shown that restraining a less-impaired upper extremity while engaging in intense amounts of functional activities, with frequent repetition, allows the brain to essentially rewire itself and thereby improve quality of movement in the affected extremity.
Bilateral Intensive Training (BIT) involves the engagement of both the affected and unaffected extremity in structured, bimanual, goal-directed, and repetitive practice of functional tasks for an extended period. These functional activities are tailored to the child’s specific impairment and interests. Intervention focuses directly on bimanual hand use with graded activities as the child progresses. The child is encouraged to use the involved upper extremity during functional bimanual activities such as self-care and play to promote optimal, functional gains.