Constraint-induced movement therapy (CIMT) is a research-originated, behavioral approach to neurorehabilitation of limb function after neurologic damage. The intervention utilizes a combination of motor training elements and psychological concepts to facilitate increased use of the affected limb as well as improved movement quality and control. Importantly, CIMT is designed to achieve real-world improvements by behavioral methods, which facilitate the incorporation of regained abilities into the person’s spontaneous behavior. CIMT is composed of four primary elements: (1) repetitive, unilateral training procedures; (2) training by the behavioral technique termed shaping; (3) a set of behavioral techniques, termed the –transfer package,— that promote transfer of therapeutic gains to the life situation; and (4) constraining use of the more-affected hand by one of several techniques including restraint of the less-affected hand, discouragement for exclusive reliance on the less-affected hand for unimanual and bimanual tasks, and purposeful design of the CIMT treatment activities to encourage use of the more-affected hand. Evidence shows that CIMT improves the functional use and occupational
