Determinants of Manual Abilities of Children with Cerebral Palsy: A National Registry-Based Study

ABSTRACT

Purpose

This cross-sectional study aimed to identify determinants of manual abilities of children with cerebral palsy (CP), as measured by the Manual Ability Classification System (MACS), in terms of intrinsic (child-related) and extrinsic (service-related) variables.

Methods

The participants were 106 children with a confirmed diagnosis of CP (aged 4–16 years). Two ordinal logistic regression models were conducted to identify intrinsic and extrinsic determinants of manual abilities.

Results

Four child-related (intrinsic) variables were found to be significant determinants of manual abilities: bimanual ability, ability to maintain and assume chair sitting, presence of seizures, and gross motor function, and only one service-related (extrinsic) significant variable was identified, which was receiving spasticity medications.

Discussion

The results highlight several determinants that should be considered when assessing and intervening to improve manual abilities of children with CP. The findings are discussed in relation to the intervention approach, contextual modification, and assistive device prescription

KEYWORDS:

• Cerebral palsy
• manual ability
• determinants
• MACS
• GMFCS-E&R

Disclosure Of Interest

The authors report no conflict of interest.

Ethical Approval

All procedures performed in studies involving human participants were in accordance with the ethical standards of the institutional and/or national research committee and with the 1964 Helsinki declaration and its later amendments or comparable ethical standards.

Informed Consent

Informed consent was obtained from all individual participants included in the study.

Additional information

Funding

This research has been funded by the Scientific Research Support Fund/Ministry of Higher Education-Jordan and the Deanship of Scientific Research/The University of Jordan; Deanship of Academic Research, University of Jordan.