Related Experiment Video
Updated: Dec 18, 2025
Author Spotlight: Repetitive Transcranial Magnetic Stimulation Combined with Movement Observation in Cerebral Palsy
Published on: August 9, 2024
Association between sensory processing and activity performance in children with cerebral palsy levels I-II on the
Sílvia Leticia Pavão1, Camila Resende Gâmbaro Lima2, Nelci Adriana Cicuto Ferreira Rocha2
1Department of Physical Therapy, Neuropediatrics Section, Universidade Federal de São Carlos, São Carlos, SP, Brazil; Departament Prevention and Rehabilitation in Physiotherapy, Universidade Federal do Paraná, Curitiba, PR, Brazil.
Insights
Sensory processing disorders significantly impact daily activities and social interactions in children with cerebral palsy (CP). Understanding these sensory issues can guide interventions to improve function and quality of life for children with CP.
Area of Science:
- Pediatric Rehabilitation
- Occupational Therapy
- Developmental Pediatrics
Background:
- Cerebral palsy (CP) affects children's motor function, often co-occurring with sensory processing disorders.
- Identifying sensory processing deficits is crucial for tailoring interventions to enhance functional abilities and participation in children with CP.
- Children with CP often experience challenges in daily living activities and social interactions due to sensory processing issues.
Purpose of the Study:
- To examine the association between sensory processing disorders and activity performance in children with cerebral palsy (CP) classified under Gross Motor Function Classification System (GMFCS) levels I and II.
- To determine if specific sensory processing patterns correlate with functional abilities and the need for caregiver assistance in this population.
Main Methods:
- Evaluated sensory processing using the Sensory Profile (SP) and activity performance with the Pediatric Evaluation of Disability Inventory (PEDI) in 28 children with CP (ages 5-15).
- Employed Spearman correlation coefficients to assess relationships between SP components and PEDI scores.
- Utilized multiple linear regression analysis to identify sensory processing variables associated with activity performance.
Main Results:
- The Behavioral Outcomes of Sensory Processing category was significantly associated with functional abilities in self-care (r²=0.30) and social function (r²=0.39).
- This sensory processing category also correlated with caregiver assistance needs for self-care (r²=0.36) and social function (r²=0.37).
- All significant associations were found at a p-value < 0.05.
Conclusions:
- Sensory processing is demonstrably linked to the capacity of children with CP (GMFCS levels I-II) to perform daily living activities.
- The findings highlight the importance of addressing sensory processing in therapeutic interventions for children with CP to improve their social interaction and environmental engagement.
- Targeting sensory processing deficits can lead to improved functional outcomes and enhanced participation for children with cerebral palsy.
Background:
Investigating the influence of sensory processing disorders on the level of function of children with cerebral palsy (CP) may help therapists identify specific impairments that impact activity and participation in these children. This may provide direction on selection of interventions to improve function and quality of life.
Objectives:
To investigate if sensory processing disorders in children with CP levels I and II on the Gross Motor Function Classification System (GMFCS) are associated with activity performance.
Methods:
Sensory processing and activity performance of 28 children with CP between 5 and 15 years (mean ± standard deviation; 9.9 ± 3.2 years) were evaluated using the Sensory Profile (SP) and Pediatric Evaluation of Disability Inventory (PEDI), respectively. Associations between the components of the SP and PEDI were assessed with Spearman correlation coefficients. Multiple linear regression analysis using backward stepwise method was used to determine the variables of sensory processing that are associated with activity performance on the PEDI.
Results:
The category of Behavioral Outcomes of Sensory Processing was the only variable associated with Functional Abilities in self-care and social function (r2 = 0.30 and r2 = 0.39, respectively) and Caregiver Assistance (r2 = 0.36 and r2 = 0.37, respectively), (p < 0.05).
Conclusion:
Sensory processing in children with CP levels I-II on the GMFCS is associated with their ability to perform daily living activities and in their social interaction with the environment.
More Related Videos
08:26Event-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
11:31Functional Near Infrared Spectroscopy of the Sensory and Motor Brain Regions with Simultaneous Kinematic and EMG Monitoring During Motor Tasks
Published on: December 5, 2014
Related Concept Videos
01:11Sensory Perception: Organization of the Somatosensory System
The receptor level:
The receptor level is the first stage of sensation. It involves the detection of a stimulus by specialized sensory receptors. The stimulus must arrive within the receptor's receptive field. Next, the receptor converts the energy of the...
01:28Major Somatic Sensory Pathways
01:18Hierarchy of Motor Control