Effect of less affected grip strength training on grip strength in both hands in unilateral cerebral palsy / Aya T{u2019}Allah Yasser Hamed ; Supervised Asma Osama Sayed , Mohamed Ismail Elassal

Thesis (M.Sc.) - Cairo University - Faculty of Physical Therapy - Department of Growth and Development Disorders in Pediatrics

Background: Children suffered from unilateral cerebral palsy or hemiplegia had week grip strength bilaterally with one side affected more than the other side leading to poor functional manual ability so cross education phenomena could be helpful for them. After a unilateral training regimen in the involved limb, strength was transferred to the contralateral limb. so grip strength training of less affected side could improve both hands gripping strength. Purpose: The purpose of the study was to find the impact of less affected grip strength training exercise on gripping strength of both hands and on functional manual ability in children suffered from unilateral cerebral palsy.Subject and procedures: This study included twenty-four participants from both sex aged from seven to twelve years diagnosed as unilateral cerebral palsy. The study procedure was grip strength training of less affected side involving three sessions per week for five weeks then showing the post treatment changes occurred in grip strength bilaterally and functional manual ability compared to before training. Results: This study reported an essential increased in the grip strength bilaterally in the study group after the training program compared with before training program with improvement in functional manual ability.Conclusion: It can be concluded that there is a positive role of less affected grip strength training not only on ipsilateral but also on contralateral grip strength with improvement in functional manual ability in children diagnosed with unilateral cerebral palsy or hemiplegia and that procedure can be used clinically in hand rehabilitation for them

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