Feasibility of using accelerometer data to quantify real-world bimanual performance and compare to in-clinic hand capacity measures in children with unilateral cerebral

Abstract

Background: In CP rehabilitation, there are speculations that the capacity doesn’t necessary translate in performance. However, current laboratory and clinical assessments heavily rely on measuring the capacity of the child. By measuring the capacity of the child, we may not accurately map/predict the performance of the child in real world activities. However, we first need to understand the relationship between capacity and performance. It is imperative to understand such relationship in children with CP and compare it to that of typically developing children. Therefore, the study design has included children with CP as comparative data to typically developing children for further investigation of capacity and performance relationship to improve rehabilitation measures. Purpose of the study: To explore the changes in UE performance following HABIT using accelerometers with children with UCP. To investigate the correlation between in-clinic capacity measures and bimanual performance measures in children with UCP. Research question(s) or hypotheses: The specific aims of this investigation include the following: 1. To assess correlation between the hand capacity measures such as BBT, NHPT, and JHFT with performance measures such as accelerometry derived variables. 2. To determine the effects of Hand-Arm Bimanual Intensive Training (HABIT) on Real-world Bimanual Performance in Children with Unilateral Cerebral Palsy. Our hypothesis is that upper limb extremity capacity may have weak correlation with upper limb extremity performance in children with CP. Methodology: We will assess coordination and hand function using nine-hole peg test (NHPT), Jebson’s hand function test (JHFT), and box and block test (BBT). The upper extremity performance will be measured with the wrist worn accelerometers for 24-hours. All the data will be quantitative, and a correlation analysis will be performed using Pearson’s correlation test between accelerometry measures and upper extremity capacity measures