Whole body organization during a symmetric bimanual pick up task for children with unilateral cerebral palsy
Ya-Ching Hung1, Aryeh Spingarn1
1Department of Family, Nutrition, and Exercise Sciences, Queens College, City University of New York, 65-30 Kissena Blvd, Flushing, NY 11367, USA.
Insights
Children with unilateral spastic cerebral palsy (USCP) show impaired whole-body and bimanual coordination during a simple pick-up task compared to typically developing children (TDC). These findings highlight the need for integrated therapeutic approaches.
Area of Science:
- Pediatric rehabilitation
- Motor control and learning
- Biomechanical analysis
Background:
- Limited information exists on whole-body coordination, specifically bimanual coordination, in children with unilateral spastic cerebral palsy (USCP).
- Understanding these coordination patterns is crucial for developing effective interventions.
Purpose of the Study:
- To investigate differences in whole-body movement organization and bimanual coordination during a pick-up task between children with USCP and typically developing children (TDC).
Main Methods:
- Twelve children with USCP (MACS levels I-II) and twelve age-matched TDC performed a whole-body pick-up task.
- Kinematic and kinetic data were collected using VICON motion capture and AMTI force plates.
Main Results:
- Children with USCP exhibited longer movement times and reduced bimanual coordination, evidenced by greater finger position and timing differences.
- Significant bilateral joint position differences (shoulder, elbow, hip, knee) and altered ground reaction forces were observed in the USCP group.
- Greater asymmetry in bilateral ground reaction forces and center of pressure excursion were noted in children with USCP.
Conclusions:
- Children with USCP demonstrate impairments in both bimanual and whole-body coordination during a basic pick-up task.
- Future interventions and assessments should incorporate whole-body tasks with dual-task constraints to address these coordination deficits.
Background:
Information on whole-body coordination involving bimanual coordination for children with unilateral spastic cerebral palsy (USCP) is limited.
Research Question:
The purpose of the current study is to test the hypothesis that during a whole-body pick up task, children with USCP will organize their whole- body movements and bimanual coordination differently than typically-developing children (TDC).
Methods:
Twelve children with USCP (average age: 8.3; MACS levels: I-II) and twelve age-matched TDC participated in the study. Children were asked to reach down, grasp, and pick up an empty box to waist height while Kinematic and Kinetic data were recorded and analyzed using a VICON system and two AMTI force plates.
Results:
Children with USCP had longer overall movement time, reaching down time, and grasping movement time (all P < 0.05) than TDC. Less bimanual coordination was indicated by greater finger vertical position differences and movement onset and offset timing differences (all P < 0.05). Additionally, greater bilateral joint position on differences were found for shoulder, elbow, hip, and knee when reaching down and for shoulder and elbow at the end of the task (all P < 0.05). Greater asymmetric bilateral ground reaction force and greater lateral and anterior center of pressure excursion were also found in children with USCP (all P < 0.05).
Significance:
Impairments in both bimanual and whole-body coordination were found during a simple whole-body task in children with USCP. Future treatments or assessments should consider whole-body tasks involving dual task constraints.
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