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Control of reaching movements in children and young adults with myelomeningocele

Published online by Cambridge University Press:  10 December 2003

Simone Norrlin ,
Margareta Dahl  and
Birgit Rösblad
Simone Norrlin
Affiliation:
Folke Bernadottehemmet, Children's Hospital, Department of Women's and Children's Health, Section of Paediatrics, Uppsala University, Uppsala, Sweden.
Margareta Dahl
Affiliation:
Folke Bernadottehemmet, Children's Hospital, Department of Women's and Children's Health, Section of Paediatrics, Uppsala University, Uppsala, Sweden.
Birgit Rösblad
Affiliation:
Department of Community Medicine and Rehabilitation, Section for Physiotherapy, Umeå University, Umeå, Sweden.
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Abstract

The aim of the present study was to analyze the ability to programme and execute reaching movements in individuals with myelomeningocele (MMC) and in a control group. Thirty-one participants (18 males, 13 females; mean age 12 years 11 months, SD 2 years 7 months, range 9 to 19 years) with MMC and 31 participants (matched for age and sex) without disabilities were investigated. Reaching was performed with and without visual feedback toward three targets displayed on a computer screen and data were collected using a digitizing tablet linked to a computer. The kinematics of reaching were analyzed and analysis of variance was used for statistical analysis. Results showed that both groups were able to programme reaching movements under both visual conditions. Although the execution of reaching was poor in the MMC group compared with the control individuals, as indicated by larger end-point errors (p=0.002), less straight movements (p=0.018), and shorter deceleration phases (p=0.004), movement time was not prolonged in the MMC group. Those with shunt treatment (n=21) had more difficulties when visual feedback was provided. Those with symptoms of early brainstem dysfunction (n=5) had shorter deceleration phases under both visual conditions.

Type
Original Articles
Information
Developmental Medicine and Child Neurology , Volume 46 , Issue 1 , January 2004 , pp. 28 - 33
Copyright
© 2004 Mac Keith Press

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