Original Research Article
Year: 2020 | Month: October | Volume: 7 | Issue: 10 | Pages: 58-65
Correlation between Visual Impairments and Hand Function in Children with Cerebral Palsy
Archana Gore1, Varsha Venkitaraman2, Sarswati Iyer3, Sheela Kerkar4, Pooja Gogri5
1Assistant Professor, Physiotherapy Department, Seth G. S. Medical College and K. E. M Hospital, Mumbai, India
2MPT, Physiotherapy Department, Seth G. S. Medical College and K. E. M Hospital, Mumbai, India
3H. O. D., Physiotherapy Department, Seth G. S. Medical College and K. E. M Hospital, Mumbai, India
4H. O. D., Ophthalmology Department, Seth G.S. Medical College and K. E. M Hospital, Mumbai, India
5Consultant Ophthalmologist, Ophthalmology Department, Seth G.S. Medical College and K. E. M Hospital, Mumbai, India
Corresponding Author: Varsha Venkitaraman
ABSTRACT
Background: Hand regard and goal-directed hand-arm movements, are augmented mainly with inputs from the visual system. More than 40 -75% of Children with Cerebral Palsy (CwCP) have some types of visual problems or impairments. Eye-hand co-ordination is very important for development of appropriate reaching, grasping, and upper extremity dexterity. Independence of the child in activities of daily living depends on upper extremity control to a great extent. The correlation between hand function and visual impairments can help early identification and correction thus facilitating achievement of milestones.
Aim & Objectives: To find correlation between Manual Ability Classification System (MACS) and each of Visual Classification scale (VCS), visual acuity, refraction, binocular vision, ocular motility respectively.
Methodology: 33 children with cerebral palsy between 2 to 10 years of age were recruited Physiotherapeutic assessments, hand function scale MACS, routine ophthalmic examination along with VCS were performed on the recruited subjects.
Statistical analysis used: Data was not normally distributed. Correlation analyses were done using Spearman Rank correlation test. Test of significance was p<0.05.
Results: MACS showed moderate correlation with VCS and visual acuity. Discussion: Majority of participants belonged to level 5B of VCS with 5B indicating highest functional vision. Visual acuity determines the clarity of environment and objects in it, providing fine-tuned visual information required to recruit the appropriate muscle synergies for hand manipulation. Thus clinically children with cerebral palsy need to be assessed on ophthalmological basis for understanding their eye hand coordination and its impact on their hand function.
Conclusion: Thus awareness and examination of visual system in CwCP plays an important role in upper extremity functional training by a physiotherapist.