Article

In children with unilateral cerebral palsy (CP), it is widely believed that
mirror movements contribute to non-use of the affected hand despite preserved
capacity, a phenomenon referred to as developmental disregard. We aimed to test
whether mirror movements are related to developmental disregard, and to clarify
the relation between mirror movements and bimanual function. METHOD: A repetitive
squeezing task simultaneously measuring both hands' grip-forces was developed to
assess mirror movements by using maximum cross-correlation coefficient (CCCmax )
as well as strength measures (MMstrength ). Developmental disregard, bimanual
performance, and capacity were assessed using a validated video-observation
method. Twenty-one children with unilateral CP participated (Median age 10y 7mo,
interquartile range [IQR] 10y 1mo-12y 9mo). Outcome measures of mirror movements
were correlated to developmental disregard, bimanual performance, and capacity
scores using Spearman's correlations (significance level: alpha<0.05). RESULTS:
Mirror movements were not related to developmental disregard. However, enhanced
mirror movements in the less-affected hand were related to reduced performance
(CCCmax : rho=-0.526, p=0.007; MMstrength : rho=-0.750, p<0.001) and capacity
(CCCmax : rho=-0.410, p=0.033; MMstrength : rho=-0.679, p<0.001). These relations
were only moderate (performance:MMstrength : rho=-0.504, p=0.010), low (capacity:
MMstrength : rho=-0.470, p=0.016) or absent for mirror movements in the affected
hand. Additionally, seven children showed stronger movements in their
less-affected hands when actually being asked to move their affected hand.
INTERPRETATION: These findings show no relation between mirror movements and
developmental disregard, but support an association between mirror movements and
bimanual function.
CI - (c) 2016 Mac Keith Press.

Langue : ANGLAIS