title: Impact of tactile dysfunction on upper-limb motor performance in children with unilateral cerebral palsy.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  To determine the relationship between tactile function and upper-limb function in children with unilateral cerebral palsy (CP).
  
  
  METHODS
  Cross-sectional study.
  
  
  METHODS
  Assessments were performed in community or hospital venues or in participants' homes.
  
  
  METHODS
  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).
  
  
  METHODS
  Not applicable.
  
  
  METHODS
  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.affiliation: Division of Physiotherapy, School of Health and Rehabilitation Sciences, The University of Queensland, Brisbane, Australia. mauld@uq.edu.au
authors.forename: Megan L
authors.initials: ML
authors.lastname: Auld
authors.forename: Roslyn N
authors.initials: RN
authors.lastname: Boyd
authors.forename: G Lorimer
authors.initials: GL
authors.lastname: Moseley
authors.forename: Robert S
authors.initials: RS
authors.lastname: Ware
authors.forename: Leanne M
authors.initials: LM
authors.lastname: Johnston
mesh_terms: D000293:Adolescent; D002547:Cerebral Palsy / Q000503:physiopathology*; D002648:Child; D003430:Cross-Sectional Studies; D004185:Disability Evaluation; D005260:Female; D006429:Hemiplegia / Q000503:physiopathology*; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D011793:Queensland / Q000453:epidemiology; D012044:Regression Analysis; D013028:Space Perception / Q000502:physiology*; D055698:Touch Perception / Q000502:physiology*; D034941:Upper Extremity / Q000503:physiopathology*