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Published on: June 4, 2020
Grip strength parameters and functional activities in young adults with unilateral cerebral palsy compared with
Jetty van Meeteren1, Rogier M van Rijn, Ruud W Selles
1Department of Rehabilitation Medicine , Erasmus MC-University Medical Centre Rotterdam, The Netherlands. j.vanmeeteren@erasmusmc.nl
Insights
Young adults with unilateral cerebral palsy show reduced grip strength and impaired function in both hands, even the uninvolved one. Activity performance is not directly linked to grip strength measures.
Area of Science:
- Neurology
- Rehabilitation Medicine
- Kinesiology
Background:
- Unilateral cerebral palsy (CP) often leads to motor impairments.
- Grip strength, muscle coordination, and endurance are crucial for daily activities.
- Understanding these parameters in young adults with CP is vital for targeted interventions.
Purpose of the Study:
- To assess the reliability of maximal grip strength, muscle coordination, and muscle endurance measurements.
- To compare these functional parameters between young adults with unilateral CP and healthy individuals.
- To investigate the correlation between these parameters and functional activity limitations.
Main Methods:
- Recruited 26 healthy subjects and 26 young adults with unilateral CP.
- Measured maximal grip strength, muscle coordination, and muscle endurance in both hands.
- Utilized the Melbourne Assessment and Abilhand Questionnaire for functional activity assessment in the CP group.
Main Results:
- Maximal grip strength was significantly reduced in the involved hand of CP patients compared to their uninvolved hand and healthy subjects.
- Muscle coordination and endurance were also reduced in both hands of CP patients compared to healthy individuals.
- Correlations between grip strength and activity limitations were weak and non-linear, indicating a complex relationship.
Conclusions:
- Functional activity performance is not solely determined by grip strength parameters in individuals with unilateral CP.
- The uninvolved hand in young adults with unilateral CP also exhibits functional impairments.
- These findings highlight the need for comprehensive rehabilitation strategies addressing both affected and unaffected limbs.
Objective:
To determine reliability of maximal grip strength, muscle coordination and muscle endurance. To compare these parameters in young adults with unilateral cerebral palsy and healthy subjects. To evaluate the correlation of these variables with functional activities.
Subjects:
Twenty-six healthy subjects and 26 young adults with unilateral cerebral palsy recruited from a cohort study in young adults with cerebral palsy.
Methods:
Maximal grip strength, muscle coordination and muscle endurance were measured in both hands of all subjects. In the healthy subjects test-retest reliability was established. In the young adults with cerebral palsy, the Melbourne assessment and Abilhand Questionnaire were used to determine functional activities.
Results:
For the dominant and non-dominant hand the intraclass correlation coefficients for the maximal grip strength were 0.93 and 0.91, for the muscle coordination 0.81 and 0.86, and for the muscle endurance 0.59 for both sides. Maximal grip strength of the involved hand of patients was reduced compared with the uninvolved hand and compared with healthy subjects. There was no difference in muscle coordination and muscle endurance between the involved and uninvolved hands. These parameters, however, were significantly reduced in both hands compared with healthy subjects. Correlations between grip strength parameters and activity limitations were relatively weak and non-linear.
Conclusion:
Performance of activity is not directly related to grip strength parameters. The uninvolved hand of young adults with unilateral cerebral palsy also has impaired function.
