Somatosensory discrimination intervention improves body position sense and motor performance in children with hemiplegic cerebral palsy

McLean, B. and Taylor, S. and Blair, E. and Valentine, J. and Carey, L. and Elliott, C. 2017. Somatosensory discrimination intervention improves body position sense and motor performance in children with hemiplegic cerebral palsy. American Journal of Occupational Therapy. 71 (3): pp. 7103190060p1-p9.

Source Title

American Journal of Occupational Therapy

DOI

10.5014/ajot.2016.024968

ISSN

0272-9490

School

School of Occupational Therapy and Social Work

URI

http://hdl.handle.net/20.500.11937/53570

Collection

Curtin Research Publications

Abstract

Objective: This study examined the use of the adult neuroscience-based Sense© intervention with children with hemiplegic cerebral palsy (HCP) to improve upper-limb somatosensory discrimination, motor function, and goal performance. Method: Seventeen children with HCP (9 boys, 8 girls; mean age = 10.2 yr) participated in this pilot matched-pairs trial with random allocation and 6-mo follow-up (intervention, n = 7; control, n = 10). The intervention group received Sense training 3×/wk for 6 wk (18 hr). Outcome measures included Goal Attainment Scaling, Sense-assess© Kids, and the Assisting Hand Assessment. Results: The intervention group improved in goal performance, proprioception, and bimanual hand use and maintained improvement at 6-mo follow-up. The control group improved in occupational performance by 6-mo follow-up. CONCLUSION: This study established the feasibility of using the Sense intervention in a pediatric setting and adds preliminary evidence to suggest that improving somatosensory function can improve motor function and goal performance among children with HCP.