Hand-Use-at-Home Questionnaire: validity and reliability in children with neonatal brachial plexus palsy or unilateral cerebral palsy.

OBJECTIVE: To investigate construct validity and test-retest reliability of the parent-rated Hand-Use-at-Home questionnaire (HUH) in children with neonatal brachial plexus palsy or unilateral cerebral palsy. DESIGN AND SUBJECTS: For this cross-sectional study, children with neonatal brachial plexus palsy or unilateral cerebral palsy, aged 3-10 years, were eligible. MAIN MEASURES: The HUH, Pediatric Outcome Data Collection Instrument Upper Extremity Scale (neonatal brachial plexus palsy only), and Children's Hand-Use Experience Questionnaire (unilateral cerebral palsy only) were completed. The HUH was completed twice in subgroups of both diagnoses. Lesion-extent (indication of involved nerve rootlets in neonatal brachial plexus palsy as confirmed during clinical observation and/or nerve surgery) and Manual Ability Classification System levels (unilateral cerebral palsy) were obtained from the medical records. Spearman correlation coefficients between the HUH and all clinical variables, agreement, standard error of measurement, smallest detectable change and intra-class correlation were calculated. RESULTS: A total of 260 patients participated (neonatal brachial plexus palsy: 181), of which 56 completed the second HUH (neonatal brachial plexus palsy: 16). Median age was 6.9 years for children with neonatal brachial plexus palsy, 116 had C5-C6 lesions. Median age for children with unilateral cerebral palsy was 6.4 years, 33 had Manual Ability Classification System Level II. The HUH correlated moderately with lesion-extent ( rs =-0.5), Pediatric Outcome Data Collection Instrument Upper Extremity Scale ( rs = 0.6) and Children's Hand-Use Experience Questionnaire ( rs = 0.5) but weakly with Manual Ability Classification System levels ( rs = -0.4). Test-retest reliability was excellent (intra-class correlation2,1 = 0.89, standard error of measurement = 0.599 and smallest detectable change = 1.66 logits) and agreement was good (mean difference HUH1 - HUH2 = 0.06 logits). CONCLUSION: The HUH showed good construct validity and test-retest reliability in children with neonatal brachial plexus palsy or unilateral cerebral palsy.

Development and psychometric properties of the Hand-Use-at-Home questionnaire to assess amount of affected hand-use in children with unilateral paresis.

AIM: To describe the development of the parent-rated Hand-Use-at-Home questionnaire (HUH) assessing the amount of spontaneous use of the affected hand in children with unilateral paresis, and to test its internal structure, unidimensionality, and validity. METHOD: Parents of children with unilateral cerebral palsy (CP) and professionals participated in the development of the HUH. To examine internal validity, data of 322 children (158 males, 164 females; mean age 6y 7mo, standard deviation [SD] 2y 1mo) with unilateral CP (n=131) or neonatal brachial plexus palsy (NBPP) (n=191) were collected. Rasch analysis was used to examine discriminative capacity of the 5-category rating scale as well as unidimensionality and hierarchy of the item set. Additionally, data of 55 children with typical development (24 males, 31 females; 6y 9mo, SD 2y 5mo) were used to examine construct validity. RESULTS: The 5-category rating scale was disordered in all items and was collapsed to obtain the best discriminating sum score. Ten misfitting or redundant items were removed. Eighteen hierarchically ordered bimanual items fitted the unidimensional model within acceptable range. The HUH significantly discriminated between the three groups (children with typical development, NBPP, unilateral CP; H(2) =118.985, p<0.001), supporting its construct validity. INTERPRETATION: The HUH is a valid instrument to assess the amount of spontaneous use of the affected hand in children with unilateral upper-limb paresis.

Intensive upper limb intervention with self-management training is feasible and promising for older children and adolescents with unilateral cerebral palsy.

This study explored the feasibility and preliminary effectiveness of a short (one week) intensive intervention combining Constraint Induced Movement Therapy (CIMT) and bimanual training (BiT) to improve upper limb capacity and bimanual performance guided by individual goal setting in children and adolescents with unilateral cerebral palsy aged 8-18 years. Self-management training was added to the intervention to maximize the effect of training and to empower the participants in self-monitoring the effective use of their affected hand. Functional goals (Canadian Occupational Performance Measure), unimanual capacity (Box and Block Test), bimanual performance (ABILHAND-Kids, Children's Hand-use Experience Questionnaire (CHEQ)) and amount of use (Video Observation Aarts and Aarts - determine developmental disregard (VOAA-DDD-R)) were measured at baseline, one week and four months post intervention. Twenty children (mean age 9.5 years) participated. Repeated measures ANOVA was used to measure effects over time. Compared to baseline, there were significant improvements on all outcome measures. The largest effect sizes were found for the COPM-performance and COPM-satisfaction (Cohen's d=2.09 and d=2.42, respectively). The effect size was large for the ABILHAND-Kids (d=0.86), moderate for the CHEQ (d=0.70) and Box and Block Test (d=0.56), and small for the VOAA-DDD-R (d=0.33). All effects were retained at the four months post intervention assessment. The results of this study indicate that one-week (36h) intensive CIMT-BiT combined with self-management training is a feasible and promising intervention for improving the capacity of the upper limb and its use in bimanual activities in older children and adolescents with unilateral CP.

Assessment of upper limb capacity in children with unilateral cerebral palsy: construct validity of a Rasch-reduced Modified House Classification.

AIM: The aim of this study was to test and improve the unidimensionality and item hierarchy of the Modified House Classification (MHC) for the assessment of upper limb capacity in children with unilateral cerebral palsy (CP) using Rasch analysis. The construct validity of the Rasch-reduced item set was evaluated. METHOD: Modified House Classification items were scored from 369 videotaped assessments of 159 children with unilateral CP (98 males, 61 females; median age 6y 6mo, range 2y 1mo-17y 5mo). Construct validity was tested in 40 other children with unilateral CP (21 males, 19 females; median age 8y 2mo, range 3y 3mo-17y 6mo) by comparing total scores with the Manual Ability Classification System (MACS) and the ABILHAND-Kids scale. RESULTS: Fifteen MHC items could be included in the Rasch analysis. The excluded items were either too easy or too difficult. Fourteen items fitted the unidimensional model (χ(2) =41.3, df=39, p=0.37). The hierarchy of these items was different from the original MHC. There was a significant correlation with the MACS (r=-0.901, p<0.001) and the ABILHAND-Kids scale (r=0.558, p<0.001). INTERPRETATION: The original item hierarchy of the MHC can be improved in order to use its sum score for the assessment of upper limb capacity in children with unilateral CP. The Rasch-reduced 14-item MHC with weighted sum score shows good construct validity to measure functional capacity of the affected hand in children with unilateral CP.

Motor learning curve and long-term effectiveness of modified constraint-induced movement therapy in children with unilateral cerebral palsy: a randomized controlled trial.

The goal of this study was to determine the progression of manual dexterity during 6 weeks (54h) (modified) constraint-induced movement therapy ((m)CIMT) followed by 2 weeks (18h) bimanual training (BiT) in children with unilateral spastic cerebral palsy (CP), to establish whether and when a maximal training effect was reached and which factors might influence the motor learning curve. In addition, long-term retention of effects was determined. In a randomized controlled trial of 52 children with CP, aged 2.5-8 years, comparing mCIMT-BiT to conventional therapy, 28 children were allocated to the mCIMT-BiT group. This group was assessed weekly with the Box and Block test. Long-term effectiveness was determined by collecting follow-up data of the primary (Assisting Hand Assessment, ABILHAND-Kids) and secondary (Melbourne, COPM) outcomes at six months and one year after intervention. Fifteen children (53.6%) reached a maximum training effect within the mCIMT period. This group differed from others with respect to age, but not gender, affected side or manual ability. Children younger than five years had a greater chance to reach a maximum score within 6 weeks mCIMT (OR=6.67, 95%CI=1.24-35.71) that stabilized already after four weeks; older children showed a longer progression and tended to decline afterwards. In both age groups, beneficial effects were retained in the long term. The findings suggest that children of 5 years and older might profit from a longer period of mCIMT than 54h to reach their maximum unimanual capacity and to retain this capacity during subsequent bimanual training.

Assessment of upper-limb capacity, performance, and developmental disregard in children with cerebral palsy: validity and reliability of the revised Video-Observation Aarts and Aarts module: Determine Developmental Disregard (VOAA-DDD-R).

AIM: To investigate the validity and reliability of the revised Video-Observation Aarts and Aarts module: Determine Developmental Disregard (VOAA-DDD-R). METHOD: Upper-limb capacity and performance were assessed in children with unilateral spastic cerebral palsy (CP) by measuring overall duration of affected upper-limb use and the frequency of specific behaviours during a task in which bimanual activity was demanded ('stringing beads') and stimulated ('decorating a muffin'). Developmental disregard was defined as the difference in duration of affected upper-limb use between both tasks. Raters were two occupational and one physical therapist who received 3 hours of training. Construct validity was determined by comparing children with CP with typically developing children. Intrarater, interrater, and test-retest reliability were determined using the intraclass correlation coefficient. Standard errors of measurement and smallest detectable differences were also calculated. RESULTS: Twenty-five children with CP (15 females, 10 males; mean age 4 y 9 mo [SD 1 y 7 mo], range 2 y 9 mo-8 y; Manual Ability Classification System levels I-III) scored lower on capacity (p=0.052) and performance (p<0.001), and higher on developmental disregard (p<0.001) than 46 age- and sex-matched typically developing children (23 males; mean age 5 y 3 mo [SD 1 y 5 mo], range 2 y 6 mo-8 y). The intraclass correlation coefficients (0.79-1.00) indicated good reliability. Absolute agreement was high, standard errors of measurement ranged from 4.5 to 6.8%, and smallest detectable differences ranged from 12.5 to 19.0%. INTERPRETATION: The VOAA-DDD-R can be reliably and validly used by occupational and physical therapists to assess upper-limb capacity, performance, and developmental disregard in children (2 y 6 mo-8 y) with CP.

Modified Constraint-Induced Movement Therapy combined with Bimanual Training (mCIMT-BiT) in children with unilateral spastic cerebral palsy: how are improvements in arm-hand use established?

A recent randomized controlled trial indicated that modified Constraint-Induced Movement Therapy followed by Bimanual Training (mCIMT-BiT) is an effective intervention to improve spontaneous use of the affected upper limb in children with unilateral spastic cerebral palsy (CP). The present study aimed to investigate how the above-mentioned improvements as a result of 8 weeks mCIMT-BiT were established. 52 children with unilateral spastic CP with Manual Ability Classification System (MACS) scores I, II or III and aged 2.5-8 years were randomly allocated to either mCIMT-BiT (n = 28) or Usual Care (UC) (n = 24). Developmental disregard ('learned non-use') and upper limb capacity and performance scores were derived from the Video Observations Aarts and Aarts, module Determine Developmental Disregard. Active and passive range of motion at the affected wrist and elbow were assessed using goniometry during isolated movements. Upper limb capacity and performance demonstrated significantly greater improvements after mCIMT-BiT compared to UC, which lasted up to 8 weeks follow-up, whereas developmental disregard and passive and active range of motion did not show differential effects. The results support the notion that improvement of capacity and performance of the upper limb through mCIMT-BiT in children with unilateral spastic CP is based on a better utilization of existing motor functions of the affected arm and hand. However, enhancement of the overall amount of use (or the reduction of learned non-use) may still be suboptimal leaving room for improvement of this treatment.

Effectiveness of modified constraint-induced movement therapy in children with unilateral spastic cerebral palsy: a randomized controlled trial.

BACKGROUND: In children with unilateral spastic cerebral palsy (CP), there is only limited evidence for the effectiveness of modified constraint-induced movement therapy (mCIMT). OBJECTIVE: To investigate whether 6 weeks of mCIMT followed by 2 weeks of bimanual task-specific training (mCIMT-BiT) in children with unilateral spastic CP improves the spontaneous use of the affected limb in both qualitative and quantitative terms more than usual care (UC) of the same duration. METHODS: Children with unilateral spastic CP with Manual Ability Classification System (MACS) scores I, II, or III and aged 2.5 to 8 years were recruited and randomly allocated to either the mCIMT-BiT group (three 3-hour sessions per week: 6 weeks of mCIMT, followed by 2 weeks of task-specific training in goal-directed bimanual play and self-care activities) or to 1.5 hours of more general physical or occupational weekly plus encouragement to use the affected hand for the UC group. Primary outcome measures were the Assisting Hand Assessment and the ABILHAND-Kids. Secondary outcomes were the Melbourne Assessment of Unilateral Upper Limb Function, the Canadian Occupational Performance Measure, and the Goal Attainment Scale. RESULTS: Twenty-eight children were allocated to mCIMT-BiT and 24 to UC. Except for the Melbourne, all primary and secondary outcome measures demonstrated significant improvements in the mCIMT-BiT group. CONCLUSION: mCIMT followed by task-specific training of goal-directed bimanual play and self-care activities is an effective intervention to improve the spontaneous use of the more affected upper limb in children with relatively good baseline upper extremity function.

Validity and reliability of the VOAA-DDD to assess spontaneous hand use with a video observation tool in children with spastic unilateral cerebral palsy.

BACKGROUND: In 2003 new computer software, the VOAA (Video Observations Aarts and Aarts), was designed to score and evaluate two important aspects of spontaneous upper limb use, i.e. overall duration and frequency of specific behaviours. The aim of this study was to investigate the test-retest, interrater and intrarater reliability and the construct validity of a new module, the VOAA-DDD, to determine developmental disregard in children with spastic unilateral cerebral palsy (CP). METHODS: A test-retest design with three raters for reliability and a two-group design for construct validity were used. Subjects were a total of 20 children with spastic unilateral CP equally divided in two age groups (2.5-5 and 5-8 years), and 56 healthy children of the same age groups. Overall duration and frequency of specific behaviours of the affected arm and hand were assessed during a task demanding ('stringing beads') and a task stimulating ('decorating a muffin') the use of both hands. Reliability was estimated by intraclass correlation coefficients (ICCs). Construct validity was assessed by comparing children with CP to healthy children. RESULTS: All ICCs exceeded 0.87. In contrast with healthy children, children with CP used their affected hand less during the 'muffin' task compared to the 'beads' task. Of the children with CP, 90% in the age group of 2.5-5 years and 50% in the age group of 5-8 years showed values exceeding the extreme values of healthy controls, respectively, indicating developmental disregard. CONCLUSION: The VOAA-DDD is a reliable and valid instrument to assess spontaneous use of the affected arm and hand in order to determine developmental disregard in children with spastic unilateral CP.