Intensive Unimanual Training Leads to Better Reaching and Head Control than Bimanual Training in Children with Unilateral Cerebral Palsy.
| Publication Type | Academic Article |
| Authors | Hung Y, Spingarn A, Friel K, Gordon A |
| Journal | Phys Occup Ther Pediatr |
| Volume | 40 |
| Issue | 5 |
| Pagination | 491-505 |
| Date Published | 01/16/2020 |
| ISSN | 1541-3144 |
| Keywords | Cerebral Palsy, Head Movements, Hemiplegia, Motor Skills, Physical Therapy Modalities, Upper Extremity |
| Abstract | AIMS: To quantify the changes in joint movement control and motor planning of the more-affected upper extremity (UE) during a reach-grasp-eat task in children with Unilateral Spastic Cerebral Palsy (USCP) after either constraint-induced movement therapy (CIMT) or hand-arm bimanual intensive therapy (HABIT). METHODS: Twenty children with USCP (average age 7.7; MACS levels I-II) were randomized into either a CIMT or HABIT group. Both groups received intensive training 6 h a day for 15 days. Children performed a reach-grasp-eat task before and after training with their more-affected hand using 3D kinematic analysis. RESULTS: Both groups illustrated shorter movement time during reaching, grasping, and eating phases after training (p < 0.05). Additionally, both intensive training approaches improved joint control with decreased trunk involvement, greater elbow, and wrist excursions during the reaching phase, and greater elbow excursion during the eating phase (p < 0.05). However, only the CIMT group decreased hand curvature during reaching, lowered hand position at grasp, and decreased head rotation during the eating phase (p < 0.05). CONCLUSIONS: The current findings showed that both CIMT and HABIT improved UE joint control, but there were greater effects of CIMT on the more-affected UE motor planning and head control for children with USCP. |
| DOI | 10.1080/01942638.2020.1712513 |
| PubMed ID | 31942818 |