Basic motor capacity in relation to object manipulation and general manual ability in young children with spastic cerebral palsy

Objective: Limited resources in terms of elementary functions may be a limiting factor for functional activities. The objective of the study was to examine basic hand motor capacities in young children with bilateral spastic cerebral palsy (BSCP) and to compare with deficits in functional activities. Method: Eighty-eight children with BSCP, 3–6 years of age, manipulated a grip object (200 g) equipped with a uniaxial force sensor. Basic motor capacity was assessed based upon (1) maximal grip strength and (2) production of fast repetitive grip force changes (FFC) while holding the object on the table. Subjects’ performance on this task was compared to the grip force amplitude and force rate assessed while the subject was lifting the same object. Results were compared between different degrees of manual ability according to the Manual Ability Classification System (MACS). Results: In children with BSCP, even in high-functioning children with MACS 1, fast grip force changes and grip strength were 2 SDs and more below the mean of controls. Differences increased from MACS 2 to 4 but not between MACS 1 and 2. During lifting children with BSCP used considerable proportions of their maximum grip strength (40–90%) and of their grip force rates during 70% vs. 86%. In some children with low manual abilities (MACS 3/4), grip force rates during lifting were higher than during FFC. Conclusion: In children with BSCP, basic motor capacity may influence manual ability, particularly in children with MACS 3 and 4. In some of these children, the underlying processes during lifting may also differ qualitatively.