title: Kinematic parameters of hand movement during a disparate bimanual movement task in children with unilateral Cerebral Palsy.
abstract: Children with unilateral Cerebral Palsy (uCP) experience problems performing tasks requiring the coordinated use of both hands (bimanual coordination; BC). Additionally, some children with uCP display involuntary symmetrical activation of the opposing hand (mirrored movements). Measures, used to investigate therapy-related improvements focus on the functionality of the affected hand during unimanual or bimanual tasks. None however specifically address spatiotemporal integration of both hands. We explored the kinematics of hand movements during a bimanual task to identify parameters of BC. Thirty-seven children (aged 10.9±2.6years, 20 male) diagnosed with uCP participated. 3D kinematic motion analysis was performed during the task requiring opening of a box with their affected- (AH) or less-affected hand (LAH), and pressing a button inside with the opposite hand. Temporal and spatial components of data were extracted and related to measures of hand function and level of impairment. Total task duration was correlated with the Jebsen-Taylor Test of Hand Function in both conditions (either hand leading with the lid-opening). Spatial accuracy of the LAH when the box was opened with their AH was correlated with outcomes on the Children's Hand Use Experience Questionnaire. Additionally, we found a subgroup of children displaying non-symmetrical movement interference associated with greater movement overlap when their affected hand opened the box. This subgroup also demonstrated decreased use of the affected hand during bimanual tasks. Further investigation of bimanual interference, which goes beyond small scaled symmetrical mirrored movements, is needed to consider its impact on bimanual task performance following early unilateral brain injury.
authors.affiliation: Department of Sport and Health Sciences, Oxford Brookes University, Oxford, United Kingdom. Electronic address: Julian.rudisch-2013@brookes.ac.uk.
authors.forename: Julian
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Rudisch
authors.affiliation: Department of Sport and Health Sciences, Oxford Brookes University, Oxford, United Kingdom.
authors.forename: Jenny
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Butler
authors.affiliation: Department of Mechanical Engineering and Mathematical Sciences, Oxford Brookes University, Oxford, United Kingdom.
authors.forename: Hooshang
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Izadi
authors.affiliation: Behavioural Science Institute, Radboud University, Nijmegen, The Netherlands.
authors.forename: Ingar Marie
authors.initials: IM
authors.lastname: Zielinski
authors.affiliation: Sint Maartenskliniek, Nijmegen, The Netherlands.
authors.forename: Pauline
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Aarts
authors.affiliation: School of Psychology, University of East London, London, United Kingdom.
authors.forename: Deirdre
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Birtles
authors.affiliation: Department of Sport and Health Sciences, Oxford Brookes University, Oxford, United Kingdom.
authors.forename: Dido
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Green
mesh_terms: D000293:Adolescent; D001696:Biomechanical Phenomena / Q000502:physiology*; D002547:Cerebral Palsy / Q000503:physiopathology / Q000534:rehabilitation; D002648:Child; D005260:Female; D007839:Functional Laterality / Q000502:physiology*; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D019957:Motor Skills Disorders / Q000503:physiopathology* / Q000534:rehabilitation; D026741:Physical Therapy Modalities; D011597:Psychomotor Performance / Q000502:physiology*; D013647:Task Performance and Analysis; D016896:Treatment Outcome
keywords: Bimanual coordination; Bimanual interference; Kinematics; Mirror movements; Unilateral Cerebral Palsy