The FBRI VTC Neuromotor Research Clinic was established and opened in May of 2013 to
provide intensive therapeutic services to individuals with motor impairment secondary to
neuromotor disorders. It is direct by Dr. Stephanie DeLuca and based on the principles
surrounding ACQUIREc Therapy.
ACQUIREc Therapy is an evidenced-based approach to pediatric constraint-induced movement
therapy, which refers to a multi-component form of therapy that is focused on helping
children who have asymmetric motor abilities between the two sides of the body.
Historically, ACQUIREc Therapy has the unimpaired or less impaired upper extremity
constrained (by a cast or a splint) while also receiving active therapy from a specially
trained therapist who shapes new skills and functional activities with the child's more
impaired upper extremity but who is also a licensed Occupational or Physical Therapist
(OT/PT). Therapy dosages are high much higher than tradition OT or PT - often lasting
many hours per day, up to 6 hours a day, 5 days a week, for 2-4 weeks.
Investigators have developed further treatments based on the same principles of intensive
services combined with behavior shaping for other areas of the body that are also
affected by weakness (e.g., the leg and trunk) also, but which usually do not involve
constraint. These have been more generally labeled ACQUIRE Therapy.
All forms involve intensive, play-based therapy for children with asymmetric motor
impairments of the arms and hands. The primary focus of treatment is to facilitate the
acquisition of new motor skills in the child's weaker body parts through high levels of
intensive therapy using scientifically-based behavioral guidelines. Therapy is also
delivered in naturalistic environments.
ACQUIREc Therapy as a treatment method has been tested in two randomized controlled
trials, and a specific manual for its implementation has been developed. Dr. (s) Ramey
and DeLuca previously founded a similar clinic, The Pediatric Neuromotor Research Clinic,
at the University of Alabama at Birmingham where Dr. DeLuca directed the research clinic
for 13 years and oversaw the implementation of the ACQUIREc Therapy treatment protocol in
more than 400 cases.
This research will involve analyzing and interpreting the clinical data of children going
through clinical procedures at the FBRI VTC Neuromotor Research Clinic. All participation
is voluntary and no children will denied services if families choose not to participate.