title: Effect of body-scaled information on reaching in children with hemiplegic cerebral palsy: a pilot study.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  This study examined body-scaled information that specifies the reach patterns of children with hemiplegic cerebral palsy and children with typical development.
  
  
  METHODS
  Nine children with hemiplegic cerebral palsy (3-5 years) and 9 age-matched children with typical development participated in the study. They were required to reach and grasp 10 different pairs of cubes. Reach data were coded as either a 1-handed reach or a 2-handed reach. Dimensionless ratios were calculated by dividing the cube size by the maximal aperture between the index finger and thumb. A critical ratio was used to establish the shift from a 1-handed to an exclusive 2-handed reach.
  
  
  RESULTS
  The critical ratio was not significantly different for either preferred or nonpreferred arms within and between groups. All children used an exclusive 2-handed reach at a similar dimensionless ratio.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Our study provides evidence of the "fit" between environment (cube size) and the individual's capabilities (finger aperture) for reaching for both groups.
authors.affiliation: Department of Occupational Therapy and Graduate Institute of Behavioral Sciences, Healthy Aging Research Center (Dr Huang), Chang Gung University, Tao-Yuan, Taiwan; Department of Physical Therapy and Athletic Training (Drs Huang, Ellis, and Wagenaar), College of Health and Rehabilitation Sciences: Sargent, Boston University, Boston, Massachusetts; Division of Biokinesiology and Physical Therapy (Drs Huang and Fetters), University of Southern California, Los Angeles, California; Department of Pediatrics (Dr Fetters), Keck School of Medicine, University of Southern California, Los Angeles, California.
authors.forename: Hsiang-Han
authors.initials: HH
authors.lastname: Huang
authors.forename: Terry D
authors.initials: TD
authors.lastname: Ellis
authors.forename: Robert C
authors.initials: RC
authors.lastname: Wagenaar
authors.forename: Linda
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Fetters
mesh_terms: D001132:Arm / Q000503:physiopathology; D002547:Cerebral Palsy / Q000150:complications / Q000534:rehabilitation*; D002675:Child, Preschool; D003430:Cross-Sectional Studies; D019988:Children with Disabilities / Q000534:rehabilitation*; D005260:Female; D006225:Hand / Q000503:physiopathology; D018737:Hand Strength; D006429:Hemiplegia / Q000150:complications / Q000534:rehabilitation*; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D009128:Muscle Spasticity / Q000150:complications / Q000534:rehabilitation; D026741:Physical Therapy Modalities; D010865:Pilot Projects; D016059:Range of Motion, Articular; D015203:Reproducibility of Results; D034941:Upper Extremity / Q000503:physiopathology*