An Instrumentation Approach for Assessing the Effects of a Hand Positioning Device on Reaching Motion of Children with Cerebral Palsy

The effects of a hand positioning device (HPD) on the quality of upper-extremity movement of five children with cerebral palsy were examined in this pilot study. Hand position was monitored during a reaching task using a single-point, 3°-of-freedom, three-dimensional tracker device. Three-dimensional path length, average velocity, movement time, response time, and the number of accelerations and decelerations (movement units) were measured. Operational definitions for each of these variables were developed for this study. Each subject performed 15 reaching trials at a pretest and posttest. A 6-week intervention period followed the pretest where each subject wore the HPD for 1 hour daily for functional activities. Group results showed no significant differences for any of the variables being measured. However, individual data analysis revealed that the HPD has the potential for modifying the quality of reaching motions in some children with cerebral palsy. The nature of the changes observed among these five subjects is discussed, as well as suggestions for future research studies. Finally, this initial study shows that the tracker is a sensitive method for recording qualitative changes in the upper-extremity motion of children with cerebral palsy in occupational therapy research.

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Test-Retest and Inter- and Intrareliability of the Quality of the Upper-Extremity Skills Test in Preschool-Age Children With Cerebral Palsy

Archives of Physical Medicine and Rehabilitation ◽

10.1016/j.apmr.2007.07.030 ◽

2007 ◽

Vol 88 (12) ◽

pp. 1686-1689 ◽

Cited By ~ 25

Author(s):

Nienke Haga ◽

Hélène C. van der Heijden-Maessen ◽

Jessika F. van Hoorn ◽

Anne M. Boonstra ◽

Mijna Hadders-Algra

Keyword(s):

Cerebral Palsy ◽

Upper Extremity ◽

Preschool Age ◽

Preschool Age Children ◽

Children With Cerebral Palsy

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Upper Extremity Strength Measurement for Children With Cerebral Palsy: A Systematic Review of Available Instruments

Physical Therapy ◽

10.2522/ptj.20130166 ◽

2014 ◽

Vol 94 (5) ◽

pp. 609-622 ◽

Cited By ~ 22

Author(s):

Koen J.F.M. Dekkers ◽

Eugene A.A. Rameckers ◽

Rob J.E.M. Smeets ◽

Yvonne J.M. Janssen-Potten

Keyword(s):

Cerebral Palsy ◽

Muscle Strength ◽

Upper Extremity ◽

Upper Limb ◽

Measurement Instruments ◽

Strength Measurement ◽

Level Of Evidence ◽

Best Evidence Synthesis ◽

Children With Cerebral Palsy

Background In order to make inferences about strength related to development or treatment interventions, it is important to use measurement instruments that have sound clinimetric properties. Purpose The objective of this review is to systematically evaluate the level of evidence of the clinimetric properties of instruments for measuring upper extremity muscle strength at the “body functions & structures” level of the International Classification of Functioning, Disability and Health for Children and Youth (ICF-CY) for children with cerebral palsy (CP). Data Sources A systematic search of the PubMed, EMBASE, OTseeker, CINAHL, PEDro, and MEDLINE databases up to November 2012 was performed. Study Selection Two independent raters identified and examined studies that reported the use of upper extremity strength measurement instruments and methods for children and adolescents with CP aged 0 to 18 years. Data Extraction The COSMIN (COnsensus-based Standards for the selection of health status Measurement INstruments) checklist with 4-point rating scale was used by 2 independent raters to evaluate the methodological quality of the included studies. Best evidence synthesis was performed using COSMIN outcomes and the quality of the clinimetric properties. Data Synthesis Six different measurement instruments or methods were identified. Test-retest, interrater, and intrarater reliability were investigated. Two test-retest reliability studies were rated as “fair” for the level of evidence. All other studies were rated as “unknown” for the level of evidence. Limitations The paucity of literature describing clinimetric properties, especially other than reliability, of upper limb strength measurement instruments for children with CP was a limitation of the study. Conclusions For measuring grip strength, the Jamar dynamometer is recommended. For other muscle groups, handheld dynamometry is recommended. Manual muscle testing (MMT) can be used in case of limited (below MMT grade 4) wrist strength or for total upper limb muscle strength. Based on lacking information regarding other clinimetric properties, caution is advised regarding interpretation of the results.

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Effects of Virtual Reality-Based Rehabilitation on Upper Extremity Function among Children with Cerebral Palsy

Healthcare ◽

10.3390/healthcare8040391 ◽

2020 ◽

Vol 8 (4) ◽

pp. 391

Author(s):

Hyun Jung Chang ◽

Kyo Hun Ku ◽

Young Sook Park ◽

Jin Gee Park ◽

Eun Sol Cho ◽

...

Keyword(s):

Virtual Reality ◽

Cerebral Palsy ◽

Upper Extremity ◽

Medical Records ◽

Rehabilitation Program ◽

Upper Extremities ◽

Extremity Function ◽

Children With Cerebral Palsy ◽

Upper Extremity Function

Background: Deterioration in upper extremity function has been a common problem among children with cerebral palsy (CP). The present study evaluated the effects of virtual reality (VR)-based rehabilitation combined with conventional occupational therapy (COT) on upper extremity function and caregiver assistance among children with CP. Methods: Medical records of 17 children with CP who regularly participated in a rehabilitation program at Samsung Changwon Hospital were retrospectively reviewed. Ten children received VR-based rehabilitation, which utilized RAPAEL Smart Kids and video games combined with COT. Seven children received COT alone, which was provided by a trained occupational therapist and focused on their upper extremities. Clinical outcomes were determined using the Quality of Upper Extremity Skills Test (QUEST) and Pediatric Evaluation of Disability Inventory (PEDI), which were administered before and 8 weeks after the first intervention session. Results: The smart glove (SG) group showed significant improvements in all QUEST domains and five PEDI domains (p < 0.05), whereas the COT group showed a significant change only in total QUEST scores. A comparison between both groups revealed that the SG group had significantly greater improvements in five QUEST domains and two PEDI domains (p < 0.05). Conclusions: Our results suggest that VR-based rehabilitation combined with COT may improve the upper extremity functions and decrease caregiver burden among children with CP.

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Reliability of the Quality of Upper Extremity Skills Test for Children with Cerebral Palsy Aged 2 to 12 Years

Physical & Occupational Therapy In Pediatrics ◽

10.3109/01942638.2011.602389 ◽

2011 ◽

Vol 32 (1) ◽

pp. 4-21 ◽

Cited By ~ 40

Author(s):

Megan Thorley ◽

Natasha Lannin ◽

Anne Cusick ◽

Iona Novak ◽

Roslyn Boyd

Keyword(s):

Cerebral Palsy ◽

Upper Extremity ◽

Children With Cerebral Palsy

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Influences of a hand positioning device on upper-extremity control of children with cerebral palsy

International Journal of Rehabilitation Research ◽

10.1097/00004356-199203000-00002 ◽

1992 ◽

Vol 15 (1) ◽

pp. 15-30 ◽

Cited By ~ 10

Author(s):

DENISE T. REID ◽

ALEX SOCHANIWSKYJ

Keyword(s):

Cerebral Palsy ◽

Upper Extremity ◽

Children With Cerebral Palsy ◽

Positioning Device

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Three-Dimensional Gait Analysis in Children Undergoing Gastrocsoleus Lengthening for Equinus Secondary to Cerebral Palsy

Medicina ◽

10.3390/medicina57020098 ◽

2021 ◽

Vol 57 (2) ◽

pp. 98

Author(s):

Norine Ma ◽

Nicholas Sclavos ◽

Elyse Passmore ◽

Pam Thomason ◽

Kerr Graham ◽

...

Keyword(s):

Cerebral Palsy ◽

Gait Analysis ◽

Three Dimensional ◽

Gait Pattern ◽

Marked Variability ◽

Children With Cerebral Palsy ◽

Comparison Groups ◽

Rigorous Treatment

Background and Objectives: Equinus is the most common deformity in children with cerebral palsy, and surgical lengthening of the gastrocsoleus muscle-tendon unit is the most commonly performed operation for children with cerebral palsy. Treatment outcomes of orthopaedic surgery can be measured objectively with three-dimensional gait analysis. This study examined the quality of evidence for gastrocsoleus lengthening surgery based on objective measures. Materials and Methods: A search was performed with Medline, Embase and PubMed from 1990 to 25 August 2020 using the keywords “cerebral palsy”, “equinus”, “surgery” and “gait analysis”. Only studies of gastrocsoleus lengthening surgery using three-dimensional gait analysis were included, yielding 34 studies. Results: Fourteen studies reported swing phase kinematics and all studies reported a significant improvement. Rates of recurrent equinus and calcaneus were reported in 21 studies and varied widely based on follow-up period and surgical technique. Conclusions: Poor study quality and marked variability in study samples and interventions made comparison difficult. Future studies should consider prospective design, controls or comparison groups and more detailed breakdowns of outcomes by cerebral palsy subtype, sagittal gait pattern, and equinus type in order to allow more rigorous treatment recommendations to be made.

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Parenting Children With Cerebral Palsy: A Longitudinal Examination of the Role of Child and Parent Factors

Council review ◽

10.1177/0014402920986462 ◽

2021 ◽

pp. 001440292098646

Author(s):

Lisa M. Dieleman ◽

Bart Soenens ◽

Peter Prinzie ◽

Lana De Clercq ◽

Sarah S. W. De Pauw

Keyword(s):

Cerebral Palsy ◽

Autonomous Motivation ◽

Psychological Needs ◽

Need Satisfaction ◽

Future Research ◽

Yearly Variation ◽

Controlling Parenting ◽

Children With Cerebral Palsy ◽

Psychologically Controlling Parenting

Because parents of children with cerebral palsy encounter many challenges, the quality of their parenting varies substantially across time. To understand how and why their parenting behaviors change across time, we examined the contributions of child behavior and parents’ psychological needs to explanations of yearly variation in responsive, autonomy-supportive, and psychologically controlling parenting. We also explored whether parents’ motivation to take care of their child explained why some parents engage in better-quality parenting than others. Parents ( N = 117) of children with cerebral palsy ( Mage = 10.98 years) participated in a three-wave longitudinal study. Multilevel analyses indicated that yearly variations in parents’ need satisfaction and frustration related to yearly fluctuations in, respectively, autonomy-supportive and psychologically controlling parenting. Child behaviors had few unique effects on parenting. Parents’ autonomous motivation was associated with better overall quality of parenting. We discuss implications for practice and directions for future research.

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