OBJECTIVE: To determine the relationship between tactile function and upper-limb function in children with unilateral cerebral palsy (CP). DESIGN: Cross-sectional study. SETTING: Assessments were performed in community or hospital venues or in participants' homes. PARTICIPANTS: Recruitment information was sent to 253 possible participants with unilateral CP (aged 8-18 y), and N=52 participated (median age [interquartile range], 12 y [9-14 y]; Gross Motor Functional Classification System level I=34; II=18; Manual Abilities Classification Scale level I=36; II=16). INTERVENTIONS: Not applicable. MAIN OUTCOME MEASURES: Tactile assessment included 1 test of registration, 5 tests for spatial perception, and 1 test for texture perception. Upper-limb motor function was assessed using 2 unimanual tests, the Melbourne Unilateral Upper Limb Assessment (MUUL) and Jebsen-Taylor Test of Hand Function (JTTHF), and 1 bimanual test, the Assisting Hand Assessment (AHA). RESULTS: Tactile registration and all tests of spatial perception were moderately related to the MUUL, JTTHF, and AHA (P<.001). Texture perception was not related to upper-limb motor function. Regression analysis showed that single point localization, a unilateral tactile spatial perception test, contributed most strongly to unimanual capacity (29% explained variance in MUUL and 26% explained variance in JTTHF), whereas double simultaneous, a bilateral tactile spatial perception test, contributed most strongly to bimanual performance (33% for the AHA). CONCLUSIONS: Spatial tactile deficits account for approximately 30% of the variance in upper-limb motor function in children with unilateral CP. This emphasizes the need for routine tactile assessment and targeted treatment of tactile spatial deficits in this population.
OBJECTIVE: To determine the relationship between tactile function and upper-limb function in children with unilateral cerebral palsy (CP). DESIGN: Cross-sectional study. SETTING: Assessments were performed in community or hospital venues or in participants' homes. PARTICIPANTS: Recruitment information was sent to 253 possible participants with unilateral CP (aged 8-18 y), and N=52 participated (median age [interquartile range], 12 y [9-14 y]; Gross Motor Functional Classification System level I=34; II=18; Manual Abilities Classification Scale level I=36; II=16). INTERVENTIONS: Not applicable. MAIN OUTCOME MEASURES: Tactile assessment included 1 test of registration, 5 tests for spatial perception, and 1 test for texture perception. Upper-limb motor function was assessed using 2 unimanual tests, the Melbourne Unilateral Upper Limb Assessment (MUUL) and Jebsen-Taylor Test of Hand Function (JTTHF), and 1 bimanual test, the Assisting Hand Assessment (AHA). RESULTS: Tactile registration and all tests of spatial perception were moderately related to the MUUL, JTTHF, and AHA (P<.001). Texture perception was not related to upper-limb motor function. Regression analysis showed that single point localization, a unilateral tactile spatial perception test, contributed most strongly to unimanual capacity (29% explained variance in MUUL and 26% explained variance in JTTHF), whereas double simultaneous, a bilateral tactile spatial perception test, contributed most strongly to bimanual performance (33% for the AHA). CONCLUSIONS: Spatial tactile deficits account for approximately 30% of the variance in upper-limb motor function in children with unilateral CP. This emphasizes the need for routine tactile assessment and targeted treatment of tactile spatial deficits in this population.
Authors: Nathalie L Maitre; Gena Henderson; Shirley Gogliotti; Jennifer Pearson; Ashley Simmons; Lu Wang; James C Slaughter; Alexandra P Key Journal: J Clin Exp Neuropsychol Date: 2014-06-23 Impact factor: 2.475
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Authors: Max J Kurz; Elizabeth Heinrichs-Graham; David J Arpin; Katherine M Becker; Tony W Wilson Journal: J Neurophysiol Date: 2013-11-13 Impact factor: 2.714