Background The Norwegian Knowledge Centre for the Health Services was asked by the Norwegian Directorate of Health to review national and international research concerning intensive training/rehabilitation of children with brain damage.

Objective In order to clarify the objective we addressed this question: What does research on the effectiveness of intensive training/habilitation for children with brain damages show?

Methods We searched systematically for articles in relevant international databases, included articles that met our inclusion criteria, critically appraised and summarised the results descriptively.

Results We summarised results from seven systematic reviews and 20 separate studies. According to the summary, the Constraint Induced (Movement) Therapy (CIMT/CI) may be better to improve upper limb function for children with spastic unilateral CP than ususal treatment. There is uncertainty related to this result. Early intervention for infants at risk for brain damage or with acquired brain damage, may also improve motor and cognitive development better than usual treatment. The quality of the evidence was from moderate to low according to GRADE.

Since the rest of the included reviews and studies were characterised by heterogeneity, sparse data and methodological flaws, we do not know whether other intensive training interventions are better than usual training according to our evidence. Due to heterogeneity in population, interventions and outcome measurements, it was not possible to perform meta-analysis.

We did not find evidence of programmes like Advanced Bio-Mechanical Rehabilitation, Doman, Family Hope program and the method of Kozijavkin that met our inclusion criteria.

Conclusion Only evidence of CIMT/CI and early intervention showed possible promising effect. More and rigorous research is required to answer the question addressed.