Premium
Use of three‐dimensional kinematic analysis following upper limb botulinum toxin A for children with hemiplegia
Author(s) -
Mackey A. H.,
Miller F.,
Walt S. E.,
Waugh M.C.,
Stott N. S.
Publication year - 2008
Publication title -
european journal of neurology
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 1.881
H-Index - 124
eISSN - 1468-1331
pISSN - 1351-5101
DOI - 10.1111/j.1468-1331.2008.02271.x
Subject(s) - medicine , upper limb , elbow , forearm , physical medicine and rehabilitation , botulinum toxin , cerebral palsy , kinematics , elbow flexion , physical therapy , range of motion , anesthesia , surgery , classical mechanics , physics
Background and purpose: To examine whether three‐dimensional (3‐D) kinematic analysis can detect changes in upper limb tasks (reach and hand‐to‐mouth) in children with hemiplegia, following upper limb botulinum toxin A injections. Methods: Ten children with hemiplegic cerebral palsy (7 males, 3 females, aged 9–17 years). Subjects received botulinum toxin A (Botox) injections into elbow forearm muscles combined with 6 weeks of occupational therapy. Participants completed a 3‐D kinematic analysis of two upper limb tasks, Melbourne Assessment of Unilateral Upper Limb Function and modified Ashworth scores measured at baseline, 2, 6 and 12 weeks post‐injection. Results: Post‐injections, elbow flexor muscle tone was reduced for 12 weeks ( p < 0.05). Group differences in active range of motion during 3‐D analysis tasks could not be demonstrated at any time post‐intervention. However, individual analyses found that at 2 weeks post‐injection, three subjects had >15 degrees increases in active elbow extension and six subjects showed an increase of >25 degrees in forearm supination during performance of the reach and hand‐to‐mouth tasks, respectively. Conclusions: 3‐D kinematics can detect changes in active movements during functional tasks following botulinum toxin A injections, suggesting this could be a potential objective outcome measure in a clinical trial.