Constraint Induced Movement Therapy

Constraint Induced Movement Therapy (CIMT) is the best researched and supported upper limb rehab therapy in the world.  It is an evidence-based therapeutic approach to rehabilitation of upper limb movement after stroke, multiple sclerosis (MS) and traumatic brain injury (TBI). The techniques of CIMT are a family of treatments that drive the brain to ‘rewire’ after injury and can be used together for a powerful 2-3 week patient program, or taken as elements to boost the impact of your upper limb therapy.

This 2-day face-to-face course is a Cortex Neuro Rehab and Neurotherapy collaboration, where we will use a combination of lectures, hands on sessions, and group discussions covering:  

• The history and evidence supporting CIMT in upper limb rehabilitation. 
• Thorough education and experiential learning of all components of the CIMT package including the transfer package, intensive practice, and use of restraint. 
• Guidance on patient selection to have the best opportunities for program success from which therapists can build their skills and confidence. 
• A review of the published literature on the known challenges to implementation in clinical practice, including discussions on barriers to CIMT implementation specific to participants’ own clinical settings.  

There is high translational focus for this course, and during the course participants will work to develop a suitable CIMT protocol for delivery in their clinical setting. It is expected that clinicians will be ready to deliver their first CIMT program with patients upon completion of this course.   This course is suitable for OTs and physiotherapists working in inpatient, outpatient, community, public and private rehabilitation settings.

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Your presenters

Ashan Weerakkody (MACP) is an APA Neurological Physiotherapist with expertise in community-based neurological rehabilitation. He provides consultative support and education to physiotherapists and occupational therapists in managing complex neurological presentations. Ashan is a PhD candidate researching the implementation of CIMT across a large rehabilitation service and has trained over 100 clinicians to deliver CIMT programs. Neurological Physiotherapy | Cortex Neuro Rehab | Perth

Robyn Emmanuel is an OT specialising in neuro-rehabilitation, clinical leadership and interdisciplinary training. She has a post-graduate diploma in Applied Neuroscience and is currently studying towards an MSc in this area at King’s College London.  She trained in Constraint Induced Movement Therapy with Dr David Morris (Taub Therapy Institute International Trainer, Taub Therapy Institute are the developers of CIMT) in 2015.  Since this time, she has used CIMT in private practice and public health and trained numerous therapists in its use.  In WA Health (P3 OT, Neuro / Stroke Rehabilitation) she, Ashan Weerakkody and Jocelyn White co-developed and delivered CIMT training and supported and co-mentored large teams of OTs, physiotherapists and therapy assistants iacross the Perth metropolitan area in their delivery of CIMT.

Our CIMT publications

Weerakkody A, Emmanuel R, White J, Godecke E, Singer B. Unlocking the restraint-Development of a behaviour change intervention to increase the provision of modified constraint-induced movement therapy in stroke rehabilitation. Aust Occup Ther J. 2023 Jul 9. doi: 10.1111/1440-1630.12896. Epub ahead of print. PMID: 37424149. 

Weerakkody A, White J, Hill C, Godecke E, Singer B. Delivering constraint-induced movement therapy in stroke rehabilitation requires informed stakeholders, sufficient resources and organisational buy-in: a mixed-methods systematic review. J Physiother. 2023 Oct;69(4):249-259. doi: 10.1016/j.jphys.2023.08.007. Epub 2023 Sep 9. PMID: 37690958.

Training package details:

Your training package includes 16 CPD hours, via a 2 day practical and interactive workshop