Effect of sensory-perceptual-motor training on activities of daily living and hand functions in unilateral cerebral palsy: a randomized control trial.

Abstract

PURPOSE: This study examines the impact of sensory-perceptual-motor training (SPMT) on hand functions as well as activities of daily living (ADLs) in children with unilateral cerebral palsy (U-CP). MATERIALS AND METHODS: The study enrolled 52 children with U-CP aged 8-12 years, who were randomly allocated to either a conventional therapy group (N = 26) or an experimental SPMT group (N = 26). Independence in ADLs, timed motor performance, and gross manual dexterity were assessed using the Katz Index, Jebsen-Taylor Hand Function Test, and Box and Block Test at baseline and after 12 weeks of intervention. RESULTS: Both groups demonstrated significant improvements in all measured outcomes immediately following treatment (p < 0.001). However, the SPMT group showed significantly greater improvements than the conventional therapy group in all measured outcomes at post-treatment (p < 0.001, η2 = 0.96). CONCLUSIONS: The SPMT program may offer a promising rehabilitation strategy for improving functional outcomes in children with U-CP and could be considered as a complementary intervention in pediatric neurorehabilitation practice. Future research should focus on larger multicenter trials, long-term follow-up assessments, and investigations of the underlying mechanisms to establish its effectiveness and optimize treatment protocols.