The effect of sensorimotor training on the moving capability of hand in students with cerebral palsy of Spastic Hemiplegia

Cerebral palsy is the most common sensory-motor disorder that causes movement restriction. This damage is caused by a problem in brain developing period, during embryonic or childhood that can lead to functional disabilities and limited participation. The motor damage is mainly unilateral; upper limb is one of the most common abnormalities that result from cerebral palsy. These disorders affect the function of the upper limb and limit it. Children with cerebral palsy are more likely to have problems with their normal peers due to lack of proper sensory experience and impaired movement that is imposed on these children in many manual skills and motor functions. The importance of hand functioning is essential for the conduct of life and any disorder can create major problems for these children and ultimately adversely affect all aspects of their development. Therefore, the application of training protocols that can help restore performance is important. The purpose of this study was to survey effect of sensorimotor training on the moving capability of hand in students with cerebral palsy of spastic hemiplegia. In this quasi-experimental study, 30 students of the cerebral palsy center of Kermanshah (west of Iran) were invited to the study. A total of 30 gestational pupils from 8 to 12 years with spasticity were selected by available sampling method. Participants after receiving permission from of authorities and parents written consent, subjects were selected to implement the project. Participants were then randomly divided into two groups of 15 subjects. Box and block test were used to measure hand motion. This test is time-dependent and the score for this test is based on the number of displaced cubes in 1minute. The exercise program included a sensory and motor part that lasted for 8 weeks and each week for 3 sessions and 60 minutes each session. Data analysis was performed by SPSS software version 22 and through independent sample T tests to compare the out-of-group and paired sample t test to compare intra-group at alpha level less than 0.05. After performing simultaneously, sensory-motor exercises, the motor function of the upper limb significantly improved (p ≤ 0.05). The mean change in the experimental group was from 11.53 ±8.03 to 15.80± 7.58 and in the control group was 10.73± 5.73 to 10.93± 5.72. Results showed a significant difference between two groups in motor capability p=0.047. Results of the study showed that the progress of these children in motor ability demonstrated the fact that they hada growth potential if they developed sensory-motor experiences. The importance of the hand in maintaining of independence and development of other skills in children and the important role of these skills in the interaction of the child with context of the proposal, it suggests that sensory-motor exercises can lead to improved hand functions in life and increase the independence of these children. Therefore, in order to improve the motor function of hands in children with cerebral palsy, spastic hemiplegia is better than simultaneous motor and emotional exercises.