A randomized crossover study of functional electrical stimulation during walking in spastic cerebral palsy: the FES on participation (FESPa) trial.

Background: Spastic cerebral palsy is the most common cause of motor disability in children. It often leads to foot drop or equinus, interfering with walking. Ankle-foot orthoses (AFOs) are commonly used in these cases.

Upper Extremity Muscle Strength in Children With Unilateral Spastic Cerebral Palsy: A Bilateral Problem?

Objective: The objective was to investigate whether muscle strength in the nonaffected and affected upper extremities (UEs) in children (7-12 years) with unilateral spastic cerebral palsy (USCP) differs from that in children with typical development (TD).

Methods: A cross-sectional study design was used. Isometric arm strength (wrist flexion, wrist extension with flexed and extended fingers, elbow flexion/extension) was assessed in 72 children (mean age = 9.

Mobility Characteristics of Children with Spastic Paraplegia Due to a Mutation in the KIF1A Gene.

Several variants in the gene have been reported to cause a complicated form of hereditary spastic paraplegia. Additional symptoms include cognitive impairment and varying degrees of peripheral neuropathy, epilepsy, decreased visual acuity, and ataxia. We describe four patients (ages 10-18 years), focusing on their mobility and gait characteristics.

Psychometric Evaluation of 2 New Upper Extremity Functional Strength Tests in Children With Cerebral Palsy.

Background: For children with unilateral spastic cerebral palsy (USCP), reduced muscle strength can lead to activity limitations. However, none of the existing measures of upper extremity strength measure strength in the context of functional activities in which strength must be maintained for several seconds.

Objective: The objective of this study was to evaluate the psychometric properties of 2 newly developed functional hand and upper extremity muscle-strength tests (Cup-Task and Box-Task) in children aged 7 to 12 years with USCP.

Reliability of maximum isometric arm, grip and pinch strength measurements in children (7-12 years) with unilateral spastic cerebral palsy.

To investigate test-retest and inter-rater reliability of maximum isometric arm muscle strength measurements using the hand-held dynamometer (HDD) and maximum isometric grip and pinch strength measurements using the Biometrics E-Link Evaluation System in children aged 7-12 years with unilateral spastic cerebral palsy. All data were obtained using a test-retest study design. The study met the conditions of the COSMIN criteria to achieve good methodological quality.

Reproducibility of Task-Oriented Bimanual and Unimanual Strength Measurement in Children with Unilateral Cerebral Palsy.

To examine reproducibility of the arm-hand strength measured while performing the bimanual crate task and the unimanual pitcher task. 105 children diagnosed with unilateral Cerebral Palsy, aged between 6 and 18 years, participated in this study. The test-retest reliability of the force generated during bimanual crate task and unimanual pitcher task of the Task-oriented Arm-hAnd Capacity instrument was investigated using intraclass correlation two-way random model with absolute agreement.

Satisfied patients after shoulder arthrodesis for brachial plexus lesions even after 20 years of follow-up.

Purpose: Patients with an upper brachial plexus lesion can suffer from dysfunction, joint deformities and instability of the shoulder. The goal of this study was to determine pain, shoulder function, patient satisfaction and muscle strength in shoulder arthrodesis in patients with an upper brachial plexus lesion more than 15 years after surgery.

Methods: We retrospectively studied 12 patients with a brachial plexus lesion of mean age 46 years (27-61).

Functional electrical stimulation of the ankle dorsiflexors during walking in spastic cerebral palsy: a systematic review.

Aim: To assess the effect of functional electrical stimulation (FES) of ankle dorsiflexors in children and adolescents with spastic cerebral palsy (CP) during walking.

Method: A systematic review was performed using the American Academy of Cerebral Palsy and Developmental Medicine methodology and the Preferred Reporting Items for Systematic Reviews and Meta-Analyses (PRISMA) guidelines. Six databases were searched for studies applying interventions to patients aged younger than 20 years.

Cross-cultural Translation and Adaptation of the Lifestyle Assessment Questionnaire (LAQ-CP) Into Dutch: A Brief Report.

Purpose: To produce a Dutch translation of the Lifestyle Assessment Questionnaire for children with cerebral palsy (LAQ-CP), adapted for cross-cultural differences.

Methods: The translation process consisted of 6 stages, following a guideline for cross-cultural adaptations including duplicate forward- and back-translations, expert group review, pilot-testing, and a process audit.

Results: Several adaptations to the questionnaire were required due to cross-cultural differences.

Does intensive upper limb treatment modality Hybrid Constrained Induced Movement Therapy (H-CIMT) improve grip and pinch strength or fatigability of the affected hand?

Purpose: To investigate the effects of Hybrid-Constrained Induced Movement Therapy (H-CIMT), defined as CIMT combined with Bimanual Intensive Movement Therapy (BIMT), on grip and pinch strength and fatigability we measured grip and pinch strength and fatigability during clinical H-CIMT.

Methods: The children participated in a H-CIMT model organized in a therapeutic summer-camp. Children received 90 hours of intensive treatment.

Effects of botulinum toxin A and/or bimanual task-oriented therapy on upper extremity impairments in unilateral Cerebral Palsy: an explorative study.

Objective: This study reports on the effects of botulinum toxin A (BoNT-A) injections in the upper extremity (UE) of children with unilateral Cerebral Palsy (uCP) combined with bimanual task oriented therapy (BITT) or either treatment modality performed separately on UE range of motion (ROM), spasticity and (functional) strength.

Methods: Thirty-five children, mean age 7.14 years (SD 2.

Observational skills assessment score: reliability in measuring amount and quality of use of the affected hand in unilateral cerebral palsy.

Background: The Observational Skills Assessment Score (OSAS) measures amount and quality of use of the affected hand in children with unilateral Cerebral Palsy (CP) in bimanual activities and could therefore be a valuable addition to existing assessment tools. The OSAS consists of tasks that are age appropriate and require use of the affected hand.

Methods: To measure the agreement and reliability of the OSAS a convenience sample of two groups of 16 children with unilateral spastic CP (2.

Effect of addition of botulinum toxin-A to standardized therapy for dynamic manual skills measured with kinematic aiming tasks in children with spastic hemiplegia.

Objective: To measure the effect of intensive therapy and the lasting effect of a standardized functional training programme with vs. without the addition of chemodernervation of the muscles of the forearm and hand.

Patients And Methods: Twenty children with spastic hemiplegia, aged 4-16 years, were matched for baseline characteristics and randomized to standardized task-oriented therapy for 6 months with or without botulinum toxin injections.

Botulinum toxin-a in children with congenital spastic hemiplegia does not improve upper extremity motor-related function over rehabilitation alone: a randomized controlled trial.

Background: Rehabilitation of the upper extremity in children with hemiplegic cerebral palsy has not been compared to the same intensity of therapy combined with injected botulinum toxin (BTX).

Objective: To measure the short-term (2 weeks) and long-term (6 and 9 months) effects of a standardized functional training program versus without the addition of chemodenervation of forearm and hand muscles.

Methods: Twenty children with spastic hemiplegia, aged 4 to 16 years, were matched for baseline characteristics and then randomized to standardized functional physical and occupational therapies for 6 months (PT/OT group) or to the same therapies plus multimuscle BTX-A (BTX+ group).

Levetiracetam therapy for treatment of choreoathetosis in dyskinetic cerebral palsy.

Dyskinetic cerebral palsy (CP) is a movement disorder that is difficult to treat and which causes major disability. We report on two female patients (aged 5y and 8y) who experienced severe perinatal asphyxia and developed dyskinetic CP, clinically characterized by choreoathetosis. Neuropsychological testing of these children showed a low average developmental quotient and no attentional deficit.

Visual Analogue Scale to score the effects of Botulinum Toxin A treatment in children with cerebral palsy in daily clinical practice.

Objective: This study examined the reliability and efficiacy of the Visual Analogue Scale (VAS) in evaluating spasticity treatment in an outpatient setting.

Patients And Methods: We used a parent-reported VAS device for evaluating the effects of Botulinum Toxin A (BTX-A). Data were collected on 55 children with cerebral palsy.

Kinematic aiming task: measuring functional changes in hand and arm movements after botulinum toxin-A injections in children with spastic hemiplegia.

Objective: To describe different aspects of a kinematic aiming task (KAT) as a quantitative way to assess changes in arm movements within 2 wks after botulinum toxin-A (BTX-A) injections in children with spastic hemiplegia.

Design: Intervention study randomized clinical trial; follow-up within 4 wks after baseline measurement.

Results: The KAT gave a high intraclass correlation on movement time, spread of end points (END), and index of performance effective (IP-E).

Effect of multilevel botulinum toxin a and comprehensive rehabilitation on gait in cerebral palsy.

To evaluate the effect of multilevel botulinum toxin A and comprehensive rehabilitation on gait pattern, muscle length, and spasticity, a multicenter randomized trial was performed in 46 children with spastic cerebral palsy who walk with flexed knees. Their mean age was 8.0 years (range 4 to 11 years).

The combined effect of lower-limb multilevel botulinum toxin type a and comprehensive rehabilitation on mobility in children with cerebral palsy: a randomized clinical trial.

Objective: To evaluate the combined effect on mobility of treatment with multilevel botulinum toxin type A (BTX-A) and comprehensive rehabilitation in children with cerebral palsy (CP).

Design: Randomized clinical trial using a multiple baseline design. The intervention group was treated 6 weeks after randomization.

Botulinum toxin A and upper limb functional skills in hemiparetic cerebral palsy: a randomized trial in children receiving intensive therapy.

The objective of this study was to determine whether the use of intramuscular botulinum toxin A (BTX-A) increases upper limb function and skills in the context of a specific therapy programme in children with hemiparetic cerebral palsy. Twenty children (nine females, 11 males) aged 4 to 16 years who were thought likely to benefit from BTX-A treatment were included. After matched pairs were made, on the basis of Zancolli grade and age, randomization took place.

Physical training of school children with spastic cerebral palsy: effects on daily activity, fat mass and fitness.

Effects of two 9-month sports programmes (four or two sessions per week) on level of daily physical activity (PA), fat mass (FM), and physical fitness were assessed in children with spastic cerebral palsy (CP; n = 20, 9.2 +/- 1.4 yr), randomly assigned to an experimental and control group after matching.