The relationship between manual ability, dystonia and choreoathetosis severity and upper limb movement patterns during reaching and grasping in children and young adults with dyskinetic cerebral palsy

Introduction

Impaired upper limb movements are a key feature in dyskinetic cerebral palsy (CP). However, information on how specific movement patterns relate to manual ability, performance and underlying movement disorders is lacking. Insight in these associations may contribute to targeted upper limb management in dyskinetic CP. This study aimed to explore associations between deviant upper limb movement patterns and (1) manual ability, (2) severity of dystonia/choreoathetosis, and (3) movement time/trajectory deviation during reaching and grasping.

Participants/methods

Participants underwent three-dimensional upper limb analysis during reaching forwards (RF), reaching sideways (RS) and reach-and-grasp vertical (RGV) as well as clinical assessment. Canonical correlation and regression analysis with statistical parametric mapping were used to explore associations between clinical/performance parameters and movement patterns (mean and variability).

Results

Thirty individuals with dyskinetic CP participated (mean age 16±5 y; 20 girls). Lower manual ability was related to higher variability in wrist flexion/extension during RF and RS early in the reaching cycle (p < 0.05). Higher dystonia severity was associated with higher mean wrist flexion (40–82 % of the reaching cycle; p = 0.004) and higher variability in wrist flexion/extension (31–75 %; p < 0.001) and deviation (2–14 %; p = 0.007/60–73 %; p = 0.006) during RF. Choreoathetosis severity was associated with higher elbow pro/supination variability (12–19 %; p = 0.009) during RGV. Trajectory deviation was associated with wrist and elbow movement variability (p < 0.05).

Conclusion

Current novel analysis of upper limb movement patterns and respective timings allows to detect joint angles and periods in the movement cycle wherein associations with clinical parameters occur. These associations are not present at each joint level, nor during the full movement cycle. This knowledge should be considered for individualized treatment strategies.