Article

OBJECTIVE: To evaluate the potential benefits of computer-assisted arm
rehabilitation gaming technology on arm function of children with spastic
cerebral palsy. DESIGN: A single-blind randomized controlled trial design. Power
calculations indicated that 58 children would be required to demonstrate a
clinically important difference. SETTING:
Intervention was home-based;
recruitment took place in regional spasticity clinics. PARTICIPANTS: A total of
15 children with cerebral palsy aged five to 12 years were recruited; eight to
the device group. INTERVENTIONS: Both study groups received 'usual follow-up
treatment' following spasticity treatment with botulinum toxin; the intervention
group also received a rehabilitation gaming device. MAIN MEASURES:
ABILHAND-kids
and Canadian Occupational Performance Measure were performed by blinded assessors
at baseline, six and 12 weeks. RESULTS: An analysis of covariance showed no group
differences in mean ABILHAND-kids scores between time points. A non-parametric
analysis of variance on Canadian Occupational Performance Measure scores showed a
statistically significant improvement across time points (chi2 (2,15) = 6.778, p
= 0.031), but this improvement did not reach minimal clinically important
difference. Mean daily device use was seven minutes. Recruitment did not reach
target owing to unanticipated staff shortages in clinical services. Feedback from
children and their families indicated that the games were not sufficiently
engaging to promote sufficient use that was likely to result in functional
benefits. CONCLUSION: This study suggests that computer-assisted arm
rehabilitation gaming does not benefit arm function, but a Type II error cannot
be ruled out.
CI - (c) The Author(s) 2015.

Langue : ANGLAIS