The Effects of Bilateral Motor Training on the Power of Grip in Affected Hand of Children with Spastic Hemiplegic Cerebral Palsy

This study aimed to examine the effects of six weeks of bilateral motor trainings in the mirror on the power of grip in affected hands in children with spastic hemiplegic cerebral palsy.

In this clinical trial study, 16 children with hemiplegic cerebral palsy were divided into two groups of bilateral motor exercises with and without mirror. In addition to the usual rehabilitation program, both groups performed motor exercises according to their instructions. The grip strength of the affected hand in both groups was assessed using a digital dynamometer pre and post intervention.

The results showed that both groups had a significant improvement in grip strength scores of the affected hand after six weeks of intervention. Also, the between group comparisons showed that the mirror training group was better than other group in the above -mentioned variable.

The pattern of these findings suggests that despite the effect of bilateral motor exercises on the grip strength of children with spastic hemiplegic cerebral palsy, bilateral motor exercises with a mirror had a greater effect, which can be explained by the mechanism of mirror neurons.