Influence of functional mobility and manual function on play in preschool children with cerebral palsy.

Introduction: This study analysed the differences in play performance between preschool children with cerebral palsy and those with typical development and investigated the factors influencing functional mobility and manual dexterity on play in children with cerebral palsy.

Method: Sixty preschool children (30 with cerebral palsy; 30 with typical development), were assessed by the revised Knox Preschool Play Scale, being that children with cerebral palsy were also classified according to their functional mobility and manual dexterity.

Results: On average, all measures were significantly smaller in the cerebral palsy group than the typical development group (p≤ .002). Manual function and functional mobility were negatively correlated with material (r = -.456, p = .011; r = -.487, p = .006) and space (r = -.494, p = .006; r = -.784, p = .000). Also the results pointed out a significant correlation with topography and manual function (r = .404, p = .027) and functional mobility (r = .718, p = .000). Pretend play and participation showed no correlation with topography (r = -.051, p = .788; r = -.312, p = .093), manual function (r = -.019, p = .921; r = -.322, p = .083) and functional mobility (r = -.085, p = .657; r = -.308, p = .097).

Conclusion: Play performance of children with typical development was superior to those with cerebral palsy. The degree of impairment of functional mobility and manual function negatively was negatively associated with play exploration but did not relate to pretend play or social interaction in play.