Abstract
The purpose of this study is to describe the kinematic changes in children with cerebral palsy (CP) after treatments performed on the forearm, wrist or thumb, with specific attention to the changes around the trunk, shoulder and elbow kinematics. With the use of a specific kinematic protocol, we first described the upper limb kinematics in a group of 27 hemiplegic patients during two simple daily tasks. Eight of these children were treated with botulinum toxin (Botox(®), Allergan) injection or surgery and were, thereafter, evaluated with another kinematic analysis in order to compare the pre- and post-therapeutic condition. The target muscles were the pronator teres, flexor carpi radialis, flexor carpi ulnaris, flexor digitorum superficialis, flexor pollicis longus and the adductor pollicis. Significant kinematic changes were found after treatment. Patients increased forearm supination (P<0.05) and wrist extension (P<0.05) during both tasks. Patients also decreased trunk flexion/extension range of motion (ROM) (P<0.05), improved elbow ROM (P<0.05) and improved internal shoulder rotation (P<0.05). Dynamic shoulder or elbow limitations in children with mild hemiplegia involvement could be related to a compensatory movement strategy and/or co-contractions. As these proximal kinematics anomalies are improved after treatments performed at the forearm, wrist and thumb, they should not be treated first but should be reconsidered after the treatment of more distal problems.
Highlights
The dynamic pattern of cerebral palsy (CP) upper limb motion is highly variable, mainly in relation to the location and the extent of the central nervous system injury
Purpose The purpose of this study is to describe the kinematic changes in children with cerebral palsy (CP) after treatments performed on the forearm, wrist or thumb, with specific attention to the changes around the trunk, shoulder and elbow kinematics
Significant kinematic changes were found after treatment
Summary
The dynamic pattern of cerebral palsy (CP) upper limb motion is highly variable, mainly in relation to the location and the extent of the central nervous system injury. Current clinical methods of upper limb evaluation are made in terms of function, motor control, sensory impairments, dexterity, tone, degree of fixed versus dynamic deformity, and passive and active range of motion (ROM). In order to better understand upper limb kinematic anomalies, several upper limb kinematic protocols have been developed and applied to small groups of children [5,6,7,8]. None of these studies has made a comparison between the pre- and post-therapeutic kinematic patterns. The purpose of this study is, to describe the kinematic changes after treatments performed on the forearm, wrist or thumb, with specific attention to the changes around the trunk, shoulder
Sign-in/Register to view highlights & summary Sign-in/Register to access full text options 
Talk to us
Join us for a 30 min session where you can share your feedback and ask us any queries you have
Schedule a callDisclaimer: All third-party content on this website/platform is and will remain the property of their respective owners and is provided on "as is" basis without any warranties, express or implied. Use of third-party content does not indicate any affiliation, sponsorship with or endorsement by them. Any references to third-party content is to identify the corresponding services and shall be considered fair use under The CopyrightLaw.
