Selective voluntary motor control after intensive intervention versus usual care in children with cerebral palsy: a randomized controlled trial

Introduction: Cerebral Palsy (CP) affects the Selective Voluntary Motor Control (SVMC) of both lower extremities (LE) and upper extremities (UE) which are needed in daily life activities. The SVMC is linked to the integrity of the corticospinal tract, altered in children with CP. The Hand-Arm Bimanual Intensive Therapy Including Lower Extremity (HABIT-ILE) has proven to promote motor function, modify brain activity and the CST integrity in children with both unilateral and bilateral CP. The effect of HABIT-ILE in the SVMC of this population has yet to be observed. Aim: The aim was to evaluate a possible improvement in SVMC after HABIT-ILE in children with unilateral CP. Methods: 30 children with unilateral CP were randomized into two groups. Half of them (intervention group) participated in a HABIT-ILE camp for two weeks and the other half (control group) continued their usual care during the same time. Assessments were made at baseline (T0), three weeks after baseline (T1) and thirteen weeks after baseline (T2). The Selective Control Assessment of Lower Extremity (SCALE), for LE, and the Test of Arm Selective Control (TASC) for UE, were used to measure the SVMC. Results: SCALE (the less and more affected LE) and TASC (the less and more affected UE) showed no group effect (p>0.05), no evaluation time effect (p>0.05) and no interaction between group and time (p>0.05) Conclusion: HABIT-ILE showed no effect on the SVMC of children with unilateral CP when assessed by SCALE and TASC.