Effectiveness of action observation treatment based on pathological model in hemiplegic children: a randomized-controlled trial.

Background: Action observation treatment (AOT) is an innovative therapeutic approach consisting in the observation of actions followed by their subsequent repetition. The standard version of AOT consists in the observation/imitation of a typically developed individual, which is proposed as model (TDM-AOT).

Aim: This study aims to compare the effectiveness of AOT based on a pathological ameliorative model (PAM-AOT) versus TDM-AOT in improving upper limb ability in children with unilateral cerebral palsy (UCP).

Lesion mapping and functional characterization of hemiplegic children with different patterns of hand manipulation.

Brain damage in children with unilateral cerebral palsy (UCP) affects motor function, with varying severity, making it difficult the performance of daily actions. Recently, qualitative and semi-quantitative methods have been developed for lesion classification, but studies on mild to moderate hand impairment are lacking. The present study aimed to characterize lesion topography and preserved brain areas in UCP children with specific patterns of hand manipulation.

Reliability and construct validity of the Activities Scale for Kids in Italian children with cerebral palsy.

Purpose: To investigate internal consistency and construct validity of the of the Activities Scale for Kids performance (ASKp) in Italian children with cerebral palsy (CP).

Methods: This cross-sectional study was conducted from 2014 up to 2019 and consisted in the single self-administration of the Italian ASKp to 206 children aged 5-15, with unilateral or bilateral CP, classified on the basis of the Gross Motor Function Classification System (GMFCS).

Results: The ASKp showed good internal consistency (Chronbach's α 0.

Construct Validity of the Activities Scale for Kids Performance in Children with Cerebral Palsy: Brief Report.

: This study collects evidence of construct convergent validity of the Activity Scale for Kids performance (ASKp), comparing its results with the 66-item Gross Motor Function Measure (GMFM-66) and with the Gross Motor Function Classification System (GMFCS) and testing the ASKp's ability to discriminate between individuals with different functional capabilities. : This cross-sectional study involved 60 children with spastic cerebral palsy (CP) assessed with the GMFM-66 who self-administered the Italian version of the ASKp. : Children were 10.

Are perceptual disorder signs in diplegic cerebral palsied children stable over time? A retrospective cohort analysis.

Background: A group of diplegic cerebral palsied (CP) children presents six precise signs that can be easily observed during clinical examinations, physiotherapy sessions and everyday activities. These signs are: startle reaction, upper limbs in startle position, averted-eye gaze, grimaces, eye blinking and posture freezing.

Methods: In a population of 32 diplegic CP children (aged 1-8 years) perceptual signs were retrospectively identified through videos to verify their stability in the same child over time.