The Effect of Intermanual Training of the Hand on Skill Generalization in Infantile Spastic Hemiplegic Cerebral Palsy

Background: Cerebral palsy is the most common pediatric neurological problem, affecting the total development of the child either directly, relating to sensory motor function, or indirectly through associated problems including Nystagmus, seizure disorders etc. Among various physical impairments, loss of hand function has a profound effect on individual's life. Hence, hand rehabilitation becomes an important therapeutic goal in these patients (13).

Objective: To examine the effects of intermanual training of hand on skill generalization in infantile Spastic Hemiplegic Cerebral palsy.

Methods: A group of 40 subjects will be selected according to the inclusion and exclusion criteria. Preintervention measures outcome parameters will be Fugl Meyer Scale, Hand- held Dynamometer and Time taken to complete the task and No. of Pegs placed using left hand in 30 seconds were noted and No. of Cheese cubes dropped (Error) in chop sticks and spoon activities.

Result: The study consisted of two groups, A (Experimental) and B (Control). Each group consisted of 15 subjects. Parametric statistic was used to compare the left hand performance, in terms of time taken. Member of errors and number of pegs, on spoon and square pegboard activity before and after the inter manual training to right hand. Pre and post date of left hand performance were analyzed with paired t-test within groups and unpaired t-test was used to compare pre and post date between groups. The significant level of the test was set at P<0.05.

Conclusion: The findings from this study suggest that in a sample of childhood stroke patients, intermanual transfer effects occur in terms of performance duration and number of errors during occupationally embedded tasks.