Article

The currently accepted definition classifies Cerebral Palsy (CP) as a mere
posture and movement disorder. Conversely, some authors have recently associated
the presence of several motor dysfunctions exhibited by diplegic children with CP
to an impairment in the perceptive system. The aim of the present study was to
investigate the influence of the Perceptive Impairment (PI) on motor control and
to appraise if the PI can be revealed by a reaching task. A functional reach and
touch experiment was accomplished from sitting posture considering different
directions and distances. Typically developing and diplegic children with CP were
enrolled and, the latter, a priori divided in two subgroups considering a
positive or negative diagnosis of PI. The reaching trials were quantified by
means of centre of pressure analysis in terms of the overall quality of the task,
and accuracy and effectiveness of postural adjustments and Anticipatory Postural
Adjustments (APAs). The three groups showed statistically significant differences
in terms of percentage of touched target, and of time spent and maximum distance
covered to reach the target. In particular, PI caused a major difficulty in
accomplishing the reaching tasks, thus a lower autonomy level in action. Overall,
the PI strongly affected the anticipatory control system. Children with PI,
rarely recruited APAs, each of which was characterized by small amplitude and
inaccuracy in direction. The lack of effective APAs indicated how PI strongly
influenced the motor control strategy. The present study demonstrates that the PI
is a primary syndrome responsible for the long-term prognosis beside the motor
and the postural disorders in CP.
CI - Copyright 2010 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.

Langue : ANGLAIS