Affiliations: [a] Department of Paediatric Rehabilitation, Princess Margaret Hospital for Children, Perth, Australia | [b] School of Paediatrics and Child Health, University of Western Australia, Perth, Australia | [c] School of Sport Science, Exercise and Health, University of Western Australia, Perth, Australia | Rehabilitation Studies Unit, Sydney Medical School, The University of Sydney, Australia
Correspondence:
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Corresponding author: Dr. Catherine Elliott, School of Sport Science, Exercise and Health, The University of Western Australia, 35 Stirling Highway, Crawley, WA 6009, Australia. Tel.: +61 8 6488 2361; Fax: +61 8 6488 1039; E-mail: catherine.elliott@health.wa.gov.au
Abstract: Objectives:To investigate the effects of lycra® arm splint wear on goal attainment and three dimensional (3D) kinematics of the upper limb and trunk in children with cerebral palsy (CP). Design:Randomised clinical trial whereby participants were randomised to parallel groups with waiting list control. Participants:Sixteen children with CP (hypertonia) aged 9 to14 years. Intervention:Three months lycra arm splint wear combined with goal directed training. Main outcome measure:Goal attainment scale, and 3D upper limb and trunk kinematics across four upper limb movement tasks. Results:17/18 children achieved their movement goals following three months of splinting. Selected joint kinematics improved on immediate splint application. Further improvements in joint kinematics were demonstrated following 3 months of splint wear, particularly in elbow extension, shoulder flexion and abduction and in thorax flexion. Only improvements in movement compensations at the thorax remained following removal of the splint. Conclusions:The lycra® arm splint, made a quantifiable change to the attainment of movement goals of importance to the child. Furthermore, improvements were demonstrated in selected maximum range of movement and joint kinematics during functional tasks at the elbow and shoulder joints and thorax segment in children with CP.
