Relación entre espasticidad, función motora gruesa, habilidad manual e independencia en las actividades de la vida diaria en niños con parálisis cerebral

Abstract

Objective To study the relationship between upper limb spasticity, gross motor function, manual ability and functionality in activities of daily living (ADLs). Material and methods Descriptive, observational and cross-sectional study. The spasticity in elbow and wrist flexor musculature was measured through the Modified Ashworth Scale, the gross motor function with the Gross Motor Function Classification System, the manual ability with the Manual ability Classification System and the activity and participation in the ADLs with the functional scales of the Pediatric Evaluation of Disability Inventory (PEDI), in sample of eight children with Cerebral Palsy. Results The results show that the spasticity in the wrist's flexor muscles is correlated with the spasticity of the elbow's flexors, with the PEDI's mobility domain, the gross motor function and the manual ability. On the other side, elbow's flexors do not keep any connection with any of the studied variables. Conclusions The increased spasticity in the wrist's flexors is crucial in order to define the child's functioning in the AVDs, in his gross motor capacity and in his manual ability. However, the spasticity in the elbow's flexors does not show any relation with any of the studied variables.