Background: The study of children with unilateral cerebral palsy (UCP) has traditionally focused on motor aspects. The extent to which sensory processing disorders can affect their functional performance and quality of life (QoL) is uncertain. This study aimed to explore the differences in sensory processing between UCP and typical development (TD) children and to analyze the relationship of sensory processing with functional performance and QoL. Methods: Fifty-three children aged from 6 to 15 years (TD = 24; UCP = 29) were recruited. The Child Sensory Profile 2, Pediatric Evaluation of Disability Inventory—Computer Adaptive Test and Kidscreen were used to evaluate sensory processing, functional performance and QoL. Results: UCP children showed sensory processing difficulties (avoidance: p = 0.02; registration: p = 0.00; body position: p = 0.00; oral: p = 0.02; social-emotional: p = 0.01), and scored lower in functional performance (daily activities: p = 0.00; mobility: p = 0.00; social/cognitive: p = 0.04) and in physical well-being (p = 0.00). The highest correlations in UCP group were found between proprioceptive processing and daily activities and mobility (r = −0.39); auditory, visual and tactile information and school environment (r = −0.63; r = −0.51; r = −0.46); behavioral and social-emotional responses and psychological well-being (r = −0.64; r = −0.49). Conclusions: UCP children have greater difficulty in sensory processing than TD children. Difficulties in proprioceptive processing contribute to poorer functional performance. Auditory, visual and tactile processing is associated with participation in the school environment and behavioral and social-emotional responses related to sensory processing are associated with the psychological well-being.

This study aimed to examine motor performance and somatosensory processing of unilateral cerebral palsy (UCP) children in both the less-affected hand and the more-affected hand. This study is also ...

Children with unilateral spastic cerebral palsy (USCP) receive different treatments, including the application of modified constraint induced movement therapy (mCIMT) or bimanual intensive therapy (BIT) to increase affected upper limb functionality. The aim of this study was to compare the effectiveness of two protocols with different proportions and orders of mCIMT/BIT within combined intensive home-therapy in children with USCP (6–8 years old) with high bimanual functional performance, applied by the family. The protocols were performed on 20 children with an average age of 7.12 years [standard deviation (SD): 0.70], allocated to two different combined therapies. The protocols were designed by 100 h of dose for 10 weeks: 80 h of mCIMT followed by 20 h of BIT (mCIMT-B group) and 80 h of BIT followed by 20 h of mCIMT (BIT-mCI group). Bimanual functional performance was measured with Assisting Hand Assessment Scale (AHA) and the affected upper limb-use experience with Children’s Hand-use Experience Questionnaire (CHEQ). Parent satisfaction and expectations with therapy were measured using a specific questionnaire. There were five assessment timepoints (week 0, week 4, week 8, week 10 and week 34). There were no statistically significant (p > 0.05) inter- and intra-group changes in the bimanual functional performance of both groups. The affected upper limb-use experience obtained significant changes in BIT-mCI group, with statistically significant differences in the pairwise comparisons between week 0–10 and week 4–10 (p = 0.028) for use of the affected hand and the use of the affected hand to grasp between week 4 and week 8 (p = 0.028). Grasp efficacy and discomfort acquired statistically significant differences only in the BIT-mCI group for pairwise comparisons week 0–week 10/week 4–week 10 (p = 0.035). Although task execution time compared with a typically developing child of the same age obtained statistically significant differences only in the group mCIMT-B for pairwise comparisons week 0–week 8 (p = 0.03), week 0–week 10 (p = 0.03), week 4–week 8 (p = 0.04) and week 4–week 10 (p = 0.03). Family satisfaction and expectations acquired an increase between week 0 and week 10 (p ⩽ 0.02). Applying 80 h of BIT for 8 weeks in children with high bimanual functional performance USCP (6–8 years old), executed at home with family involvement would be sufficient to obtain improvements in affected upper limb-use experience, without the need to use combined protocols of 100 h. However, no statistically significant increase in bimanual functional performance would be obtained, with the basal situation of the child being a factor to consider for the execution of mCIMT and BIT. Registration number and name of trial registry: [ClinicalTrials.gov identifier: NCT03465046]

Introduction: Occupational therapy aims to support children with unilateral cerebral palsy (UCP) by enhancing upper limb (UL) function and promoting participation. Although evidence strongly endorses specific assessment tools and interventions, their consistent application in clinical settings remains unclear. Aim: This study explored the clinical practices of Spanish occupational therapists in assessing and treating children with UCP, focusing on UL function, participation and somatosensory processing. Method: A cross-sectional online survey was distributed to occupational therapists working with paediatric neurological conditions in Spain. The questionnaire comprised 32 items across three domains: demographics, assessment and intervention. Findings: Of the 130 respondents, 57.7% used standardised assessment tools, yet only 17.7% were aware of their validation status. Somatosensory processing was assessed in fewer than half of the cases by 32.3% of therapists. Intensive therapies were employed by 30.77%, with only 12.5% adhering to recommended dosage guidelines. Common conventional approaches included bimanual activities, play, activities of daily living re-education, somatosensory stimulation, adaptations and assistive devices. Some therapists also incorporated emerging therapies. Conclusion: The findings reveal a gap between evidence-based recommendations and clinical practice, particularly regarding somatosensory assessment and intensive interventions. Enhanced professional development is needed to support the consistent use of validated tools and structured strategies.

Disabled children living in orphanages in low-income countries may not have access to the therapy they need. The COVID-19 pandemic has complicated the situation dramatically, making online training activities a possible innovative option to meet the real needs of local staff. This study aimed to detect the training needs of the local staff of an orphanage in Vietnam, as well as develop an audiovisual training material and measure its feasibility. Training needs were identified through a focus group carried out by the volunteers of Fisios Mundi, a nongovernmental organization. The audiovisual training material was developed to meet these specific needs. Lastly, its feasibility was evaluated, in terms of both content and format, through an ad hoc questionnaire. Nine volunteers participated in the project. Twenty-four videos were created and structured around five themes. This study expands the body of knowledge on how an international cooperation project can be developed in a pandemic situation. The audiovisual training material content and format created in this project was considered by the volunteers as very feasible and useful for training the staff of a Vietnamese orphanage.

Somatosensory impairments are common in children with unilateral cerebral palsy and may be associated with limitations in upper-limb function and daily activities. The aim of this exploratory single-arm pre–post study was to examine pre–post change following a novel intensive somatosensory activity-based intervention (ISABI) targeting the more-affected upper limb, focusing on goal-related occupational performance (primary outcome), upper-limb motor performance, and somatosensory function. Sixteen children aged 6–15 years completed 36 h of intervention over three weeks (30 h clinic-based and 6 h home practice). Outcomes were assessed pre- and post-intervention using the Canadian Occupational Performance Measure (COPM; performance and satisfaction), the Box and Block Test, the Jebsen–Taylor Hand Function Test, and a predefined somatosensory assessment battery covering tactile registration, tactile spatial perception (unilateral and bilateral), graphaesthesia, haptic perception (stereognosis of objects and forms), texture perception, and functional sensibility. Occupational problems were most frequently related to self-care (81.25%), followed by leisure (12.50%) and productivity (6.25%). COPM performance increased by 71.47% and family satisfaction increased by 62.51%. Manual dexterity and hand function improved by 12% (Box and Block Test) and 12.38% (Jebsen–Taylor Hand Function Test), respectively. Somatosensory outcomes showed improvements in several domains, including unilateral and bilateral spatial discrimination, graphaesthesia (33% increase), texture perception (33% increase), and functional sensibility (18.52% increase), while tactile registration and stereognosis showed limited change. These exploratory findings suggest potentially meaningful pre–post changes in goal-related occupational performance and satisfaction, upper-limb motor performance, and selected somatosensory outcomes following ISABI in children with unilateral cerebral palsy. Given the exploratory single-arm pre–post design (no control group and no follow-up), findings should be interpreted cautiously and require confirmation in adequately powered randomised trials with blinded assessment and longer-term follow-up. NCT04235088.