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Effect of Sensory- Motor Integration Training on Activities of Daily Living in Children with Erb's Palsy: A
Sara E Ali1, Abd Elaziz A Sherif2, Osama A El-Agamy3
1Department of Physical Therapy for Pediatrics, Kafr El-sheikh University, Egypt.
Insights
Sensory-motor integration training enhanced upper limb rehabilitation for children with Erb
Area of Science:
- Pediatric rehabilitation
- Neurorehabilitation
- Occupational therapy
Background:
- Erb's palsy significantly impacts children's daily living skills.
- Effective interventions are crucial for improving functional outcomes.
Purpose of the Study:
- To evaluate the efficacy of sensory-motor integration training combined with upper limb rehabilitation for children with Erb's palsy.
- To assess improvements in activities of daily living (ADLs) and hand function.
Main Methods:
- A randomized controlled trial involving 32 children (aged 2-6 years) with Narakas Type I Erb's palsy.
- Participants were assigned to a control group (upper limb program) or a study group (upper limb program + sensory-motor integration training).
- Interventions were administered thrice weekly for 12 weeks, with outcomes measured using the Jebsen-Taylor Hand Function Test and grip strength.
Main Results:
- Both groups showed significant improvements in grip strength.
- The study group exhibited significantly greater improvements in grip strength and simulated feeding performance compared to the control group.
- The sensory-motor integration group demonstrated a 60% improvement in feeding performance versus 51% in the control group.
Conclusions:
- Sensory-motor integration training, when added to standard upper limb rehabilitation, significantly enhances functional abilities and ADLs in children with Erb's palsy.
- This combined approach offers a promising strategy for pediatric rehabilitation in Erb's palsy.
Objective:
This study examined sensory-motor integration training effects on activities of daily living (ADLs) in children with Erb's palsy.
Methods:
A randomized controlled trial enrolled 32 children aged 2-6 years with Narakas Type I Erb's palsy. This assessor-blinded study randomly allocated participants using sequentially numbered, sealed opaque envelopes to control group (60 minutes of an upper-limb rehabilitation program) or study group (45 minutes of the same upper-limb rehabilitation program plus 15 minutes of sensory-motor integration training; total 60 minutes/session). Interventions were delivered three times weekly for 12 weeks. The primary outcome was the Jebsen-Taylor Hand Function Test (JTHFT) Simulated Feeding subtest; secondary outcomes included other JTHFT subtests and grip strength, measured at baseline and week 12.
Results:
Both groups showed significant within-group improvements in grip strength (p < 0.001). Post-intervention, the study group demonstrated significantly greater grip strength versus control (5.42 ± 0.81 vs. 3.36 ± 0.46), with a between-group difference of 2.06 units (95% CI: 1.58-2.54) and very large effect size (Cohen's d = 3.13; p < 0.001). The study group showed greater improvement in feeding performance (Δ = 13.93 s; 60% improvement) than control (Δ = 11.27 s; 51% improvement).
Conclusion:
Combined with an upper limb rehabilitation program, sensory-motor integration training significantly improves functional abilities and daily living skills in children with Erb's palsy.
Clinicaltrials:
gov ID: NCT06324643.
