Quality of Reach During a Game and During a Rote Movement in Children with Cerebral Palsy

This study builds on previous research that contrasted occupational forms in terms of the kinematic characteristics of reaching. Two ABA single subject experiments examined the reaching movements of two 4 year old girls with spastic diplegia cerebral palsy. During the A phases, the child reached for a cylinder. In the B phase (occupationally embedded movement condition), the child reached for a cylindrical doll while playing a game. Three dimensional motion analysis equipment recorded kinematic variables. Visual analysis of the data showed the occupationally embedded movement was characterized by fewer movement units, less movement time, and greater velocity for both children. The peak velocity occurred at a later point in the reach for one child. No differences were found with displacement. The study clearly illustrated that the quality of movement was different when reaching for a doll while playing a game as opposed to reaching with limited meaning and purpose.