Deficits in upper-limb task performance in children with hemiplegic cerebral palsy as defined by 3-dimensional kinematics.

OBJECTIVE

To define upper-limb movement deficits in children with hemiplegia using 3-dimensional (3-D) kinematic analysis of functional tasks.

DESIGN

Cohort study.

SETTING

University gait laboratory.

PARTICIPANTS

Ten children with hemiplegic cerebral palsy (mean age, 13.3y; range, 10-17y) and 10 control children (mean age, 9.8y; range, 6-12y).

INTERVENTIONS

Not applicable.

MAIN OUTCOME MEASURE

3-D upper-limb movement analysis.

RESULTS

3-D kinematics detected clinically significant between-group differences. Children with hemiplegia were significantly slower than control children in time taken to complete tasks (P<.05) and achieved slower movement velocities (P<.05). Group differences in range of motion (ROM) occurred in all 3 tasks examined (hand to mouth, hand to head, reach). Children with hemiplegia had significantly less supination (P<.03) and shoulder flexion (P<.03) and increased compensatory trunk flexion (P<.01) compared with control data (hand-to-mouth task). The reach task highlighted restriction of elbow extension in children with hemiplegia (minimum elbow extension: hemiplegia, 24+/-18 degrees ; control, 3+/-7 degrees ). Completing tasks bilaterally did not alter performance of the tasks in children with hemiplegia.

CONCLUSIONS

3-D kinematics detected deficits in timing, ROM, and proximal compensatory strategies during upper-limb functional task performance in children with hemiplegia.