Kinematic motion abnormalities and bimanual performance in children with unilateral cerebral palsy
Florence Gaillard1,2, Armel Cretual2, Sebastien Cordillet2
1Department of Physical Medicine and Rehabilitation, CHU Rennes, Rennes, France.
Insights
Children with unilateral cerebral palsy (CP) exhibit greater upper limb movement deviations. These deviations strongly correlate with impaired bimanual performance, highlighting the need for targeted therapeutic interventions.
Area of Science:
- Pediatric Neurology
- Rehabilitation Medicine
- Movement Science
Background:
- Unilateral cerebral palsy (CP) significantly impacts upper limb function in children.
- Understanding the relationship between motor control deficits and functional bimanual performance is crucial for effective intervention.
Purpose of the Study:
- To investigate the correlation between upper limb movement abnormalities and bimanual performance in children with unilateral CP.
- To quantify kinematic deviations in the affected upper limb and relate them to functional outcomes.
Main Methods:
- A cohort of 23 children with unilateral CP and 23 typically developing children (TDC) were assessed.
- Bimanual performance was evaluated using the Assisting Hand Assessment (AHA).
- Three-dimensional movement analysis quantified upper limb kinematic indices, including Global Arm Profile Score (APS) and Global Arm Variable Score (AVS).
Main Results:
- Children with unilateral CP demonstrated significantly greater kinematic deviations compared to TDC.
- A strong negative correlation (r=-0.75) was observed between Global-APS and AHA scores.
- Movement deviations, particularly in distal joints, were significantly associated with bimanual performance.
Conclusions:
- Children with unilateral CP exhibit distinct upper limb movement abnormalities compared to their typically developing peers.
- Global upper limb movement deviation is a strong predictor of bimanual task performance in this population.
- Therapeutic strategies should address distal joint limitations to improve functional outcomes in unilateral CP.
Aim:
To evaluate the relationship between the movement abnormalities of the impaired upper limb in children with unilateral cerebral palsy (CP) and bimanual performance.
Method:
Twenty-three children with unilateral CP (mean age 11y 10mo [SD 2y 8mo]) underwent evaluation of bimanual performance (Assisting Hand Assessment [AHA]) and a three-dimensional movement analysis to measure deviations in the movement of their affected upper limb, and compared with 23 typically developing children (TDC) (mean age 11y 11mo [SD 2y 5mo]). Kinematic indices, such as the Global Arm Profile Score (APS), which summarizes the global movement deviation of the upper limb from the norm, and the Global Arm Variable Score (AVS), which represent movement deviations for a given joint, were calculated and correlated to AHA.
Results:
Values of kinematic indices were significantly higher in children with unilateral CP than in TDC. A strong correlation between Global-APS and AHA score (r=-0.75) was found. Other significant correlations were found with Global-AVS, especially in distal joints.
Interpretation:
Children with unilateral CP had more movement deviations than TDC. The global movement deviation of the impaired upper limb was strongly correlated with bimanual performance. The influence of distal abnormalities confirms the importance of considering these limitations in therapeutics.
What This Paper Adds:
Children with unilateral cerebral palsy had more movement deviations than typically developing children in unimanual tasks. A strong relationship was found between movement deviations of the impaired upper limb and bimanual performance.
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