title: The effects of intensive bimanual training with and without tactile training on tactile function in children with unilateral spastic cerebral palsy: A pilot study.
abstract: Children with unilateral spastic cerebral palsy (USCP) often have tactile impairments. Intensive bimanual training improves the motor abilities, but the effects on the sensory system have not been studied. Here we compare the effects of bimanual training with and without tactile training on tactile impairments. Twenty children with USCP (6-15.5 years; MACS: I-III) were randomized to receive either bimanual therapy (HABIT) or HABIT+tactile training (HABIT+T). All participants received 82 h of standardized HABIT. In addition 8 sessions of 1h were provided to both groups. The HABIT+T group received tactile training (without vision) using materials of varied shapes and textures. The HABIT group received training with the same materials without tactile directed training (full vision). Primary outcomes included grating orientation task/GOT and stereognosis. Secondary outcomes included two-point discrimination/TPD, Semmes-Weinstein monofilaments/SWM. The GOT improved in both groups after training, while stereognosis of the more-affected hand tended to improve (but p=0.063). No changes were found in the TPD and the SWM. There were no group×test interactions for any measure. We conclude tactile spatial resolution can improve after bimanual training. Either intensive bimanual training alone or incorporation of materials with a diversity of shapes/textures may drive these changes.
authors.affiliation: Department of Biobehavioral Sciences, Teachers College, Columbia University, 525 West 120th Street, Box 93, New York, NY 10027, USA. Electronic address: hk2455@tc.columbia.edu.
authors.forename: Hsing-Ching
authors.initials: HC
authors.lastname: Kuo
authors.affiliation: Department of Biobehavioral Sciences, Teachers College, Columbia University, 525 West 120th Street, Box 93, New York, NY 10027, USA. Electronic address: ag275@tc.columbia.edu.
authors.forename: Andrew M
authors.initials: AM
authors.lastname: Gordon
authors.affiliation: Institute of Neuroscience, Université Catholique de Louvain, Brussels, Belgium. Electronic address: aline.henrionnet@gmail.com.
authors.forename: Aline
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Henrionnet
authors.affiliation: Institute of Neuroscience, Université Catholique de Louvain, Brussels, Belgium. Electronic address: sylvie.hautfenne@outlook.com.
authors.forename: Sylvie
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Hautfenne
authors.affiliation: Burke-Cornell Medical Research Institute, 785 Mamaroneck Avenue, White Plains, NY 10605, USA; Brain-Mind Research Institute, Weill Cornell Medical College, 1300 York Ave, New York, NY 10021, USA. Electronic address: kaf3001@med.cornell.edu.
authors.forename: Kathleen M
authors.initials: KM
authors.lastname: Friel
authors.affiliation: Institute of Neuroscience, Université Catholique de Louvain, Brussels, Belgium. Electronic address: yannick.bleyenheuft@uclouvain.be.
authors.forename: Yannick
authors.initials: Y
authors.lastname: Bleyenheuft
mesh_terms: D002547:Cerebral Palsy / Q000503:physiopathology / Q000534:rehabilitation*; D002648:Child; D005260:Female; D006225:Hand; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D026741:Physical Therapy Modalities; D010865:Pilot Projects; D013236:Stereognosis; D014110:Touch; D055698:Touch Perception; D016896:Treatment Outcome
keywords: Bimanual training; Cerebral palsy; Hand; Hemiplegia; Intensive rehabilitation; Sensory function; Tactile impairments; Tactile training