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Event-related Potentials During Target-response Tasks to Study Cognitive Processes of Upper Limb Use in Children with Unilateral Cerebral Palsy
Published on: January 11, 2016
Repeatability of upper limb kinematics for children with and without cerebral palsy
Siobhán Reid1, Catherine Elliott, Jacqueline Alderson
1School of Sport Science, Exercise & Health, The University of Western Australia, Perth, Australia. siobhan.reid@uwa.edu.au
Insights
This study shows a repeatable 3D kinematic model for assessing upper limb motion in children. The model accurately captures distinct movement patterns in children with cerebral palsy (CP) and typically developing peers.
Area of Science:
- Biomechanics
- Clinical assessment
- Pediatric movement analysis
Background:
- Standardized objective assessment of upper limb motion is needed for clinical populations.
- This study focuses on the repeatability of a 3D kinematic model for children with and without cerebral palsy (CP).
Purpose of the Study:
- To describe the repeatability of a 3D kinematic model and protocol for assessing upper limb movement in children.
- To compare upper limb kinematics between typically developing children and those with CP.
Main Methods:
- Ten typically developing (TD) children and seven children with CP (spastic hemiplegia) underwent upper limb motion analysis on two separate occasions.
- 3D joint angles of the thorax, shoulder, elbow, and wrist were calculated during four functional tasks.
- Within-day and between-day repeatability was evaluated using coefficients of multiple determination (CMD).
Main Results:
- Distinct kinematic patterns were observed between TD children and those with CP for all tasks.
- Children with CP showed reduced elbow extension and compensatory shoulder/thorax movements compared to peers.
- High within-day and between-day CMD scores indicated good repeatability, especially for joints with large ranges of motion.
Conclusions:
- The selected tasks effectively differentiate upper limb kinematic patterns between children with and without CP.
- The 3D motion analysis model demonstrates high repeatability, particularly for joints with extensive movement.
- 3D motion analysis is a viable and feasible assessment tool for pediatric clinical populations.
Background:
There is increasing demand for a standardised and reliable protocol for the objective assessment of upper limb motion in clinical populations. This paper describes the repeatability of a three-dimensional (3D) kinematic model and protocol to assess upper limb movement for children with and without cerebral palsy (CP).
Methods:
Ten typically developing (TD) children (m=10.5years+/-1.18) and seven children with CP (spastic hemiplegia) (m=11.14years+/-1.86) completed upper limb motion analysis on two occasions separated by at least one week. Participants performed three trials of four functional tasks, where 3D joint angles were calculated at the thorax, shoulder, elbow and wrist. Within and between-day repeatability was assessed using coefficients of multiple determination (CMD).
Findings:
There were distinct kinematic patterns for both groups for each functional task. In relation to their peers, children with CP consistently displayed reduced elbow extension, and compensatory patterns at the shoulder and thorax. High within and between-day CMD scores were revealed for specific rotations, with the highest being obtained at joints with large ranges of motion.
Interpretation:
The chosen tasks delineate the upper limb kinematic patterns of those with and without CP. The model has high within and between-day repeatability particularly where joint rotations demonstrate a large range of movement. 3D motion analysis is a feasible assessment tool for use with clinical populations.
