Upper Limb Contractures in Children with Cerebral Palsy

Developmental Medicine & Child Neurology published research on upper limb contractures in children with cerebral palsy. The study investigated the longitudinal development of passive range of motion (ROM) in the upper limbs in 771 children with cerebral palsy (average age 11 years, 8 months), and evaluated which children were more likely to develop contractures related to functional level, CP subtype, and age.

Results of the Study on Upper Limb Contractures in Children with Cerebral Palsy

Data analysis was completed to compare risk factors and to predict contracture development.  The following results were reported:

• one third (34%) of the children had developed contractures.
• decreased passive ROM was significant at a mean age of 4 years for wrist extension and 7 years for shoulder flexion, elbow extension, and supination.
• the children at the Manual Ability Classification System (MACS) level V had a 17-times greater risk of contractures than children at MACS level I.

The research concluded that 34% of the children developed upper-limb contractures with passive ROM decreasing with age. The strongest predictor of contracture development was the MACS level.

Reference: Hedberg‐Graff, J., Granström, F., Arner, M., & Krumlinde‐Sundholm, L. (2018). Upper‐limb contracture development in children with cerebral palsy: a population‐based study. Developmental Medicine & Child Neurology.

Therapeutic Play Activities for Children– Do you work with young children with cerebral palsy, autism spectrum disorders, developmental disabilities or delays? Are you in search of new, creative ideas for your therapy sessions? Do you need home exercise program sheets to encourage carryover of therapeutic activities? Do you need simple ideas that use materials that you have around your house, therapy room or classroom already? Do you work with children who receive constraint or bimanual therapy? Therapeutic Play Activities for Children includes 100 play activity sheets with a photo of the activity, purpose of each activity and materials list. The 12 tip sheets include topics such as modifications, peer interaction, guided play, prompts and several specifically for children with cerebral palsy. FIND OUT MORE INFORMATION.