Influence of task on interlimb coordination in adults with cerebral palsy.
OBJECTIVE
To examine movement time and kinematic properties of unilateral and bilateral reaching movements in adults with cerebral palsy (CP), focusing on how different types of bilateral movements, simultaneous or sequential, may influence interlimb coordination.


METHODS
Quantitative study using between-group repeated-measures analyses.


METHODS
Motor control laboratory at a research university.


METHODS
Adults with hemiplegic CP (n=11; mean age ± SD, 33±10y; 4 men) and age-matched controls (mean age ± SD, 32±9y; 4 men).


METHODS
Not applicable.


METHODS
Movement time (MT), maximum deviation from a straight trajectory to the target, and peak speed.


RESULTS
Although adults with hemiplegic CP showed strong unilateral deficits, bilateral simultaneous reaching movements were temporally and spatially coupled. Movement of the less affected arm slowed to match the movement of the more affected arm. In contrast, bilateral sequential movements improved MTs of the less affected and more affected arms.


CONCLUSIONS
Bilateral sequential movements were conducive to faster MT compared with unilateral or bilateral simultaneous movements. Training that includes bilateral sequential movements may be beneficial to adults with hemiplegic CP. Upper-limb movements are coordinated in a variety of ways to perform routine bilateral tasks. Some bilateral tasks, such as stacking boxes, require more symmetric movements of the upper limbs. Other bilateral tasks, such as opening the refrigerator with 1 hand while placing an item on the shelf with the other hand, emphasize coordinated sequential action between upper limbs. Despite the prevalence of integrative upper-limb use, the control of different forms of bilateral movement is not well understood. A more comprehensive knowledge of upper-limb bilateral movements may hold important implications for developing more effective upper-limb movement therapies.
Langan
Jeanne
J
University of Michigan, Ann Arbor, USA. jlangan@umich.edu
Doyle
Stephen T
ST
Hurvitz
Edward A
EA
Brown
Susan H
SH
D002547:Cerebral Palsy / Q000150:complications / Q000534:rehabilitation*; D005260:Female; D006429:Hemiplegia / Q000209:etiology / Q000503:physiopathology*; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D009068:Movement / Q000502:physiology*; D013647:Task Performance and Analysis; D013997:Time Factors; D034941:Upper Extremity