Efficacy of Dual Task Training versus Conventional Therapy on Hand Function and Visual Perception Ability in Children with Cerebral Palsy

Abstract

This pilot study aimed to assess the effect of dual-task training, compared to conventional therapy on the hand functional ability and visual perception in children with cerebral palsy. It was a pretest-posttest control group design, conducted for 4 weeks with ten children ranged between 5-13 years old. Participants were randomly allocated either to the experimental group (dual-task training) or the control group (conventional treatment). The experimental group received the usual physical therapy session and dual-task training sessions 3 sessions/week for 4 weeks. The control group received only the conventional physical therapy 3 sessions/week for 4 weeks. Fine and gross motor hand function were assessed by the Jebsen-Taylor hand function test and the Motor-free Visual Perception Test 3rd edition was used to assess visual perceptual ability before intervention and at 4 weeks after intervention. Only the experimental group showed an improvement in hand function (p<0.05) and no significant differences were observed between the groups (p>0.05). Statistically significant changes were noticed in three of the five subscales of the visual perception in the experimental group (p<0.05) with the experimental group superior to the control group. These findings suggest that dual-task training conducted with a precise goal to achieve (problem-solving) and including cognitive tasks is beneficial in means of improving hand function and visual perceptional ability of children with hemiplegic cerebral palsy with a short-term effect. However, further studies on children with cerebral palsy with a similar approach are warranted.