The effect of somatosensory perception and proprioception on upper extremity functional skills in children with hemiparetic and diparetic cerebral palsy

This study aimed to determine the effects of somatosensory perception and proprioception on upper extremity functional skills in children with hemiparetic and diparetic Cerebral Palsy (CP). 15 children with hemiparetic CP, 15 children with diparetic CP and 15 healthy control groups (24 boys/21 girls) with a mean age of 10.71± 4.09 years, GMFCS 1-2-3 and MACS 1-2-3 levels were included in the study was included. Demographic information of all children was recorded. Evaluation tests were performed in the dominant and nondominant upper extremities. Somatosensory perception was evaluated with the sub-parameters of SIPT that kinesthesia, tactile stimulus localization, double-touch stimulus localization, finger recognition, and right-left discrimination tests. For proprioception evaluation, measurements were made with a goniometer on the shoulder, elbow, and hand-wrist. Upper extremity functional skills were evaluated using the Jebsen Taylor Hand Function Test (JTEFT). It was found that somatosensory perception and proprioception were statistically significantly different between the children with CP and the control group and these parameters were also related to manual abilities (p<0.05). It was found that the somatosensory perception and proprioception of the control group were significantly better than both groups with hemiparetic and diparetic CP (p<0.05). In the somatosensory perception, proprioception and JTEFT tests of children with CP; The hemiparetic group was found to be significantly better in both somatosensory perception and proprioception as well as upper extremity skills compared to the diparetic group (p<0.05). Keywords: Hemiparetic Cerebral Palsy; Diparetic Cerebral Palsy; Somatosensory Perception; Proprioception; Hand Function Skill