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Want to Improve Hand Function in Cerebral Palsy? Try Neck and Trunk Exercises

Want to Improve Hand Function in Cerebral Palsy? Try Neck and Trunk Exercises

Do you work with children who have cerebral palsy and want to improve their hand function? One study indicates that neck and trunk exercises can help!

Study on Exercise, Cerebral Palsy and Hand Function

The Journal of Physical Therapy Science published research examining the effects of neck and trunk stabilization exercises on hand function and visual perceptual skills in 11 school aged children with cerebral palsy (GMFCS I-III).

Each participant was evaluated using the Jebson-Taylor hand function test and the Korean Developmental Test of Visual Perception-2 (K-DTVP-2) test.

The interventions consisted of individual sessions for eight weeks, twice a week, for 45 minutes at a time.  The neck and trunk stabilization exercises were implemented according to the functioning and level of each child.

What Exercises Were Included?

Some of the exercises included included in the study on cerebral palsy and hand function were:

  • raising the head up in a modified bridge exercise posture
  • pushing the neck backward in order to activate the erector muscle of the cervical and upper thoracic vertebra
  • activating the deep abdominal muscles in the bridge exercise posture.

Results

Following the 8 week intervention, a post evaluation was performed.  Data analysis revealed the following results:

  • a significant effect in five subcategories of the Jebson-Taylor hand function test: short sentence writing, card turning, placing small objects into something, large & lightweight can lifting, large & heavyweight can lifting.
  • there was a significant effect in visual motor speed on the K-DTVP-2 test.

The researchers concluded that the neck and trunk exercises used in this study helped improve short sentence writing, card turning, placing small objects into something, large & lightweight can lifting, large & heavyweight can lifting and visual motor speed.

Reference:  Shin J-W, Song G-B. The effects of neck and trunk stabilization exercises on upper limb and visuoperceptual function in children with cerebral palsy. Journal of Physical Therapy Science. 2016;28(11):3232-3235. doi:10.1589/jpts.28.3232.

Therapeutic Play Activities for Children Download

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 carry over 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.

 

Want to Improve Hand Function in Cerebral Palsy? Try Neck and Trunk Exercises