Contralateral effect of unilateral motor priming on grasping in children with unilateral spastic cerebral palsy

Introduction
Cross-training, as a type of unilateral movement-based priming, could enhance the affected side depending on strengthening of the non-affected side. It was aimed to investigate the effect of unilateral movement-based priming on handgrip strength and fine motor developmental outcomes of the affected upper extremity in children with unilateral spastic cerebral palsy.

Methods
Overall, 32 patients participated in this study; they were randomly classified into 2 groups. Group A subjects engaged in a selected occupational therapy program based on fine motor development, while those in group B received exercises to increase contralateral hand strength followed by application of the same program as group A. The treatment programs were conducted 3 times per week for 10 successive weeks. The outcomes included affected handgrip strength as a primary outcome and age equivalent for grasping in the Peabody Developmental Motor Scale – Fine Motor (PDMS-FM). These measures were recorded before and after the application of the allocated interventions.

Results
There were statistically significant differences when comparing pre- and post-treatment mean values in each group. Also, there was a significant difference in favour of the study group when comparing post-treatment mean values (p < 0.05).

Conclusions
Unilateral motor priming through cross-training is effective in improving grasping outcomes of the affected upper extremity concerning strength and fine motor development in children with unilateral spastic cerebral palsy.