Use of three-dimensional kinematic analysis following upper limb botulinum toxin A for children with hemiplegia.

BACKGROUND AND PURPOSE: To examine whether three-dimensional (3-D) kinematic analysis can detect changes in upper limb tasks (reach and hand-to-mouth) in children with hemiplegia, following upper limb botulinum toxin A injections. METHODS: Ten children with hemiplegic cerebral palsy (7 males, 3 females, aged 9-17 years). Subjects received botulinum toxin A (Botox) injections into elbow forearm muscles combined with 6 weeks of occupational therapy. Participants completed a 3-D kinematic analysis of two upper limb tasks, Melbourne Assessment of Unilateral Upper Limb Function and modified Ashworth scores measured at baseline, 2, 6 and 12 weeks post-injection. RESULTS: Post-injections, elbow flexor muscle tone was reduced for 12 weeks (p < 0.05). Group differences in active range of motion during 3-D analysis tasks could not be demonstrated at any time post-intervention. However, individual analyses found that at 2 weeks post-injection, three subjects had >15 degrees increases in active elbow extension and six subjects showed an increase of >25 degrees in forearm supination during performance of the reach and hand-to-mouth tasks, respectively. CONCLUSIONS: 3-D kinematics can detect changes in active movements during functional tasks following botulinum toxin A injections, suggesting this could be a potential objective outcome measure in a clinical trial.

Reliability and validity of an activity monitor (IDEEA) in the determination of temporal-spatial gait parameters in individuals with cerebral palsy.

This study evaluated within- and between-session reliability and validity of temporal-spatial gait parameters derived from the intelligent device for energy expenditure and activity (IDEEA) activity monitor (Minisun, Fresno, CA) in subjects with cerebral palsy, using three-dimensional gait analysis (3-DGA) as the criterion standard. Twenty-five subjects with cerebral palsy (mean age 14.1 years, range 8-23) and 30 control subjects (mean age 14.2 years, range 7-24) completed two 3-DGA, 1 week apart with simultaneous IDEEA data collection. The IDEEA had lower within-session reliability than the 3-DGA for both groups, indicated by greater measurement errors and wider repeatability values for all temporal-spatial parameters. Between-session reliability of 3-DGA was high for both groups with intra-class correlation coefficients (ICC) >0.80. The IDEEA monitor showed high between-session reliability for control subjects (ICC 0.71-0.89), but lower reliability in subjects with cerebral palsy, particularly for walking velocity and stride length (ICC 0.53 and 0.62, respectively). Validity comparison between IDEEA and 3-DGA measures using Bland Altman 95% limits of agreement showed a measurement bias, with the IDEEA over-estimating step and stride length and underestimating cadence in both subject groups compared to 3-DGA. The 95% limits of agreement were smaller in controls (step +/-0.20 m; stride +/-0.27 m; walking velocity +/-0.28 m/s) than in subjects with cerebral palsy (step +/-0.36 m; stride +/-0.37 m; velocity +/-0.58 m/s). Modifications may be necessary to improve the reliability and validity of the IDEEA in children, particularly for use in neurological conditions.