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Association of activities of daily living and cognitive function with thickness of the upper extremity muscles in children and adults with cerebral palsy

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Abstract

Purpose

We examined the association of activities of daily living (ADL) and cognitive function with the upper extremity muscle thickness and upper extremity range of motion (ROM) and spasticity in children and adults with cerebral palsy (CP).

Methods

The subjects were 20 children and adults with CP. The ADL performed using the upper extremities and cognitive function were assessed using the self-care domain of the Pediatric Evaluation of Disability Inventory (PEDI) and the full-scale intelligence quotient (FSIQ) of the Wechsler Intelligence Scale for Children, fourth edition (WISC-IV), respectively. The WISC-IV was assessed in only seven of 20 subjects able to undergo evaluation. The thickness of the upper extremity muscles was measured using an ultrasound imaging device. Moreover, ROM and spasticity of the upper extremities were assessed using the Modified Ashworth Scale (MAS). Manual manipulation ability was also assessed using the Manual Ability Classification System (MACS).

Results

Stepwise regression analysis revealed that the extensor digitorum muscle thickness and MACS level were significant and independent factors of self-care in the PEDI. Partial correlation analysis with MACS level and age as control variables showed that the FSIQ of the WISC-IV was significantly associated with the thickness of the anterior fibers of the deltoid and flexor digitorum superficialis muscles.

Conclusion

Reduced ADL performed using the upper extremities is associated with decreased extensor digitorum muscle thickness rather than ROM and spasticity of the upper extremities in children and adults with CP.

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Acknowledgements

The present study was supported by Japan Society for the Furukawa Medical & Welfare Foundation. The authors wish to thank all the individuals who participated in the present study.

Funding

On behalf of all the authors, the corresponding author states that there are no funding sources.

Author information

Authors and Affiliations

  1. Department of Physical Therapy, Takasaki University of Health and Welfare, 501 Nakaorui-Machi, Takasaki, Gunma, 370-0033, Japan

    Mitsuhiro Masaki

  2. Department of Rehabilitation, Tsukuba Memorial Hospital, 1187-299 Kaname, Tsukuba, Ibaraki, 300-2622, Japan

    Yuki Uchikawa

  3. Department of Rehabilitation, IMS Fujimi General Hospital, 1967-1 Tsuruma, Fujimi, Saitama, 354-0021, Japan

    Yuka Iizuka

  4. Department of Rehabilitation, Niigata Rehabilitation Hospital, 761 Kizaki, Kita-Ku, Niigata, Niigata, 950-3304, Japan

    Karin Sugawara

  5. Department of Rehabilitation, Ibaraki Seinan Medical Center Hospital, 2190 Sakaimachi, Sashimagun, Ibaraki, 306-0400, Japan

    Honoka Isobe

  6. Department of Rehabilitation, Mizuno Memorial Hospital, 6-32-10 Nishiarai, Adachi-Ku, Tokyo, 123-0841, Japan

    Fuyumi Hattori

  7. Musashino City Development Support Center for Children, Midori-No Kodomokan, 2-6-8 Midori-Cho, Musashino, Tokyo, 180-0012, Japan

    Mami Okamoto

  8. Department of Rehabilitation, Gunma Seishi Ryougoen, 146-1 Ashikado-Machi, Takasaki, Gunma, 370-3531, Japan

    Saki Takahashi

  9. Department of Rehabilitation, National Hospital Organization Nishiniigata Chuo Hospital, 1-14-1 Masago, Nishi-Ku, Niigata, Niigata, 950-2085, Japan

    Emina Morohashi & Yuki Kitamura

Authors
  1. Mitsuhiro Masaki
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  2. Yuki Uchikawa
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  3. Yuka Iizuka
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  4. Karin Sugawara
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  5. Honoka Isobe
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  6. Fuyumi Hattori
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  7. Mami Okamoto
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  8. Saki Takahashi
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  9. Emina Morohashi
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  10. Yuki Kitamura
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Contributions

All the authors conceived and designed the research. MM, YU, YI, KS, HI, FH, MO, ST, EM, and YK conducted the experiments. MM, YU, and HI analyzed the data. MM and YU wrote the manuscript. All the authors read and approved the manuscript.

Corresponding author

Correspondence to Mitsuhiro Masaki.

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Conflict of interest

On behalf of all the authors, the corresponding author states that there are no conflicts of interest.

Ethical approval

All the procedures performed in studies involving human participants were in accordance with the ethical standards of the institutional and/or national research committee and with the 1964 Helsinki Declaration and its later amendments or comparable ethical standards.

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Informed consent was obtained from all individual participants included in the study.

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Masaki, M., Uchikawa, Y., Iizuka, Y. et al. Association of activities of daily living and cognitive function with thickness of the upper extremity muscles in children and adults with cerebral palsy. J Med Ultrasonics 50, 245–252 (2023). https://doi.org/10.1007/s10396-023-01292-0

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s10396-023-01292-0

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