An exploratory pre-post study of an intensive somatosensory activity-based intervention on participation-related goals, motor performance and somatosensory function in children with unilateral cerebral palsy
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Updated: Jul 12, 2026
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
Patricia Jovellar-Isiegas1, Luis Enrique Roche-Seruendo1, Diego Jaén-Carrillo1,2
1Faculty of Health Sciences, University of San Jorge, Zaragoza, Spain.
Insights
This study found that an intensive somatosensory activity-based intervention (ISABI) improved occupational performance, hand function, and somatosensory skills in children with unilateral cerebral palsy. Further research is needed to confirm these positive outcomes.
Area of Science:
- Pediatric Rehabilitation
- Neuroscience
- Occupational Therapy
Background:
- Somatosensory impairments are prevalent in children with unilateral cerebral palsy, impacting upper-limb function and daily activities.
- A novel intensive somatosensory activity-based intervention (ISABI) was developed to address these deficits.
Purpose of the Study:
- To evaluate the pre-post changes in occupational performance, upper-limb motor function, and somatosensory abilities following the ISABI in children with unilateral cerebral palsy.
Main Methods:
- An exploratory single-arm pre-post study involving 16 children (aged 6-15 years) who received 36 hours of ISABI over three weeks.
- Outcomes measured included the Canadian Occupational Performance Measure (COPM), Box and Block Test, Jebsen-Taylor Hand Function Test, and a somatosensory assessment battery.
Main Results:
- Significant improvements were observed in COPM performance (71.47%) and satisfaction (62.51%).
- Upper-limb motor skills improved, with a 12% increase in the Box and Block Test and 12.38% in the Jebsen-Taylor Hand Function Test.
- Somatosensory function showed gains in spatial discrimination, graphaesthesia (33%), texture perception (33%), and functional sensibility (18.52%).
Conclusions:
- The ISABI shows potential for improving goal-related occupational performance, satisfaction, motor function, and specific somatosensory skills in children with unilateral cerebral palsy.
- Findings are preliminary due to the study's exploratory, single-arm design; further validation through randomized controlled trials is recommended.
Abstract:
Somatosensory impairments are common in children with unilateral cerebral palsy and may be associated with limitations in upper-limb function and daily activities. The aim of this exploratory single-arm pre-post study was to examine pre-post change following a novel intensive somatosensory activity-based intervention (ISABI) targeting the more-affected upper limb, focusing on goal-related occupational performance (primary outcome), upper-limb motor performance, and somatosensory function. Sixteen children aged 6-15 years completed 36 h of intervention over three weeks (30 h clinic-based and 6 h home practice). Outcomes were assessed pre- and post-intervention using the Canadian Occupational Performance Measure (COPM; performance and satisfaction), the Box and Block Test, the Jebsen-Taylor Hand Function Test, and a predefined somatosensory assessment battery covering tactile registration, tactile spatial perception (unilateral and bilateral), graphaesthesia, haptic perception (stereognosis of objects and forms), texture perception, and functional sensibility. Occupational problems were most frequently related to self-care (81.25%), followed by leisure (12.50%) and productivity (6.25%). COPM performance increased by 71.47% and family satisfaction increased by 62.51%. Manual dexterity and hand function improved by 12% (Box and Block Test) and 12.38% (Jebsen-Taylor Hand Function Test), respectively. Somatosensory outcomes showed improvements in several domains, including unilateral and bilateral spatial discrimination, graphaesthesia (33% increase), texture perception (33% increase), and functional sensibility (18.52% increase), while tactile registration and stereognosis showed limited change. These exploratory findings suggest potentially meaningful pre-post changes in goal-related occupational performance and satisfaction, upper-limb motor performance, and selected somatosensory outcomes following ISABI in children with unilateral cerebral palsy. Given the exploratory single-arm pre-post design (no control group and no follow-up), findings should be interpreted cautiously and require confirmation in adequately powered randomised trials with blinded assessment and longer-term follow-up. NCT04235088.
