An exploratory pre–post study of an intensive somatosensory activity-based intervention on participation-related goals, motor performance and somatosensory function in children with unilateral cerebral palsy - Summary - MDSpire
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An exploratory pre–post study of an intensive somatosensory activity-based intervention on participation-related goals, motor performance and somatosensory function in children with unilateral cerebral palsy
To examine pre–post change following a novel intensive somatosensory activity-based intervention (ISABI) targeting the more-affected upper limb in children with unilateral cerebral palsy.
Approach:
Study Design: Exploratory single-arm pre–post study with 16 children aged 6–15 years completing 36 hours of intervention over three weeks.
Outcome Measures: Assessed using the Canadian Occupational Performance Measure (COPM), Box and Block Test, Jebsen–Taylor Hand Function Test, and a somatosensory assessment battery.
Key Findings:
COPM performance increased by 71.47% and family satisfaction increased by 62.51%.
Manual dexterity improved by 12% (Box and Block Test) and 12.38% (Jebsen–Taylor Hand Function Test).
Improvements in somatosensory outcomes included unilateral and bilateral spatial discrimination, graphaesthesia (33% increase), texture perception (33% increase), and functional sensibility (18.52% increase).
Occupational problems were primarily related to self-care (81.25%).
Interpretation:
Limitations:
Exploratory single-arm pre–post design with no control group.
No follow-up assessments conducted.
Findings require confirmation in adequately powered randomized trials with blinded assessment.
