Article

AIMS: To determine changes in upper limb movement substructures that denote
fluency of movement in children with cerebral palsy (CP) following lycra((R))
splint wear. Secondarily, to explore the efficacy of lycra((R)) splints for those
with spastic and dystonic hypertonia. DESIGN: Randomised clinical trial whereby
participants were randomised to parallel groups with waiting list control.
METHOD: Sixteen children (mean age 11.5 years SD=2.2) with hypertonic upper limb
involvement (13 hemiplegia, 4 quadriplegia) were recruited. Children were
randomly allocated either to a control group or to wear the lycra((R)) splint for
a period of three months. Three-dimensional (3D) upper limb kinematics was used
to assess four functional tasks at baseline, on initial lycra((R)) splint
application, three months after lycra((R)) splint wear, and immediately after
splint removal. Movement substructures of the motion of the wrist joint center
were analysed. RESULTS: A significant difference was observed between baseline
and three months of lycra((R)) splint wear in the movement substructures;
movement time, percentage of time and distance in primary movement, jerk index,
normalised jerk and percentage of jerk in primary and secondary movements. The
magnitude of changes in normalised jerk and the percentage of jerk in the primary
movement from baseline to three months was greatest in children with dystonic
hypertonia. CONCLUSIONS: The results indicate that lycra((R)) arm splinting
induced significant changes in movement substructures and motor performance in
children with CP. This research demonstrates that fluency of movement can be
quantified and is amenable to change with intervention.
CI - Crown Copyright (c) 2010. Published by Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.

Langue : ANGLAIS