Association Between Gross Motor Function and Manual Ability in Children with Spastic Cerebral Palsy

Abstract

Background: Cerebral Palsy (CP) is a complex neurological condition that significantly impacts a child's motor abilities. Understanding the relationship between gross motor function and manual ability in children with CP, particularly spastic diplegia, is crucial for developing effective treatment strategies. Objective: This study aimed to investigate the association between Gross Motor Function Classification System (GMFCS) levels and Manual Ability Classification System (MACS) as well as Bimanual Fine Motor Function (BFMF) in children with spastic diplegic CP. Methods: A cross-sectional study was conducted involving 186 children aged 6-12 years with Diplegic CP, using convenience sampling. The GMFCS, MACS, and BFMF were employed to assess gross motor function, manual ability, and bimanual fine motor function, respectively. Data analysis was performed using SPSS 26.0, focusing on descriptive statistics and correlation coefficients. Results: The mean age of participants was 8.35 years (SD = 1.998). The study comprised 57% male and 43% female participants. GMFCS levels distribution showed that the most common level was IV (31.2%), followed by levels III (19.4%) and V (18.8%). A strong correlation was observed between GMFCS and MACS (r = .752, p < 0.001) and a moderate to strong correlation between GMFCS and BFMF (r = .618, p < 0.001). Conclusion: The study concluded that gross motor function significantly influences manual ability in children with spastic diplegic CP. Higher GMFCS levels were associated with more severe impairments in manual ability and bimanual fine motor function.