Motor Function and Manual Ability in Children with Cerebral Palsy: A Primary Report

• Main Authors: Aye Myint Thu, Thant Thant Aung, Khin Mar Myint, Aye Aye Myint
• Format: Article
• Language: English
• Published: Rajanagarindra Institute of Child Development 2017-07-01
• Series: International Journal of Child Development and Mental Health
• Subjects: Cerebral Palsy; Descriptive Study; Motor Function; Manual Ability
• Online Access: https://www.tci-thaijo.org/index.php/cdmh/article/view/94998
• ISSN: 2286-7481; 2586-887X

Abstract This descriptive study aims to describe the motor type, topographical distribution and motor function of lower limbs, and the manual ability of upper limbs. Cerebral Palsy (CP) describes a group of disorders in the development of movement and posture in the developing brain. This study was carried out during 2015 on 60 CP children. Multiple sources of assessment were used, including medical records of patients at the Physical Medicine Department in 550 Bedded Mandalay Children’s Hospital. Children were grouped according to motor type, topographical pattern, Gross Motor Function Classification System (GMFCS) and Manual Ability Classification System (MACS) scales. During the study period, 60 CP children (29 males and 31 females) aged 4-12 years were observed, with a mean (SD) age of 7.7 (3.7) years. In this study, spastic CP was the most common type (80%) and more specifically, bilateral CP (70%) was more common than unilateral (10%). With respect to the GMFCS classification, level II (30%), and to the MACS classification, level II (38.3%), was the most common. This study is only a hospital based, descriptive study and therefore there are many limitations. We are trying to establish a neuro-clinic, as well as a development clinic, with few resources and man power. This research team is in the first few steps of developing a coordinated, multidisciplinary team to help children with cerebral palsy and developmental delay. The significance of the study results will help to educate the community about the role of early intervention, the earlier the better, for children with cerebral palsy.