Assessment of bimanual performance in 3-D movement analysis: Validation of a new clinical protocol in children with unilateral cerebral palsy

• Published in: Annals of physical and rehabilitation medicine 2020-10, Vol.63 (5), p.408-415
• Main Authors: Gaillard, Florence, Cacioppo, Marine, Bouvier, Brice, Bouzille, Guillaume, Newman, Christopher J., Pasquet, Thibault, Cretual, Armel, Rauscent, Hélène, Bonan, Isabelle
• Format: Article
• Language: English
• Subjects: 3-D movement analysis; Adolescent; Bimanual performance; Bimanual task; Cerebral Palsy; Child; Clinical Protocols; Female; Hand; Humans; Life Sciences; Male; Movement; Reproducibility of Results; Unilateral cerebral palsy; Upper Extremity; Upper limb
• ISSN: 1877-0657; 1877-0665
• DOI: 10.1016/j.rehab.2019.06.008

•Bimanual performance is explored with this novel 3-D motion analysis protocol.•This protocol is feasible and reliable in children with unilateral cerebral palsy.•Children with unilateral cerebral palsy show significant kinematic differences as compared with typically developing children.•Relationships are found between kinematic parameters and clinical measures. The “Be an Airplane Pilot” (BE-API) protocol is a novel 3-D movement analysis (3DMA) protocol assessing the bimanual performance of children during a game. This study aimed to investigate the reliability and validity of this protocol in children with unilateral cerebral palsy (uCP). Angular waveforms (WAVE), maximum angles (MAX) and range of motion (ROM) of the trunk, shoulder, elbow and wrist joints were collected in children with uCP and in typically developing children (TDC) during 4 tasks of the BE-API protocol designed to explore specific degrees of freedom (DoF). The inter-trial reliability for children with uCP was assessed with the coefficient of multiple correlation (CMC) for WAVE and the intraclass correlation coefficient (ICC) and standard error of measurement (SEM) for MAX and ROM. Clinical performance-based measures, including the Assisting Hand Assessment (AHA) and ABILHAND-Kids scores, were used to explore correlations between clinical measures and kinematic parameters in children with uCP. 20 children with uCP (13 boys; mean age 12.0 [SD 3.2] years) and 20 TDC (11 boys; mean age 11.9 [SD 3.4] years) were included. In children with uCP, most kinematic parameters showed high reliability (WAVE: CMC≥0.82; MAX and ROM: ICC≥0.85, SEM≤4.7°). Elbow extension, forearm supination, and wrist adduction were reduced and wrist flexion was increased for children with uCP versus TDC (P