Effect of Task Specific Electrical Stimulation on Upper Limb Gross Motor Skills in Children With Spastic Quadriplegia

Condition(s) studied

Investigational drug(s) / intervention(s)

Task specific electrical stimulation ( TASES ): Each child in group B receive the designed program plus the task specific electrical stimulation (TASES) for 20 minutes during the weight bearing exercises as push up , prone on hands on wedge and quadruped with weight shifting. The electrical stimulation is applied with the following parameters. Pulse frequency 25-50 HZ, pulse duration 300 micro second, intensity to display a visible muscle contraction, for 20 minutes. First channel, one electrode will be placed at the middle of triceps muscle, the second electrode will be placed more distal towards the elbow joint itself (about 3 cm above the olecranon process). Second channel, one electrode will be placed over finger and wrist extensors motor point to allow activation of fingers and wrist extensors. The other electrode will be placed over the tendonous portion of the forearm between motor points of extensor carpi radialis and extensor carpi ulnaris muscles.

Designed Physical therapy program: The program used a combination of open-and closed-chain exercises. Exercises for facilitating transitions as supine to sit with hand weight bearing , side lying to side sit , side sitting to quadruped, weight bearing exercises as prone on hands on wedge , quadruped with weight shifting and push up exercise for one hour.

Study summary

Cerebral palsy is a non-progressive lesion of the brain occurring before 2 years of age resulting in disorders of posture and movement.( Ostensjo S, 2004)( Keles MN, 2018). Although non- progressive, motor impairments develop as the child grows leading to activity and participation restriction.

For children with CP, body function and structure impairments include changes in muscle tone and strength that affect the ability to control movement, specifically in regard to postural responses, selective control, regulation of activity, ability to learn unique movements, and inappropriate sequencing.(Ross SA,2007)( Ostensjo S, 2004) .

Lack of proper loading and maladaptive muscle pulls over time causes the skeletal system to adapt to positions of malalignment, malformation, and overall bone weakness (Beckung E, 2007) (Elbasan B, 2018).

These changes lead to delays in the natural progression of gross motor skills. As the child falls behind in motor function, they also fall behind in cognitive stimulation and development.( Akaya KU, 2018) . Understanding the anatomical and physiological implications that CP has on the developing child is necessary for physical therapists to treat this population, especially when utilizing electrical stimulation.

Spastic quadriplegia Is a type of cerebral palsy that affects all four limbs and typically involves significant motor impairment. It results from brain damage that occurs before, during, or shortly after birth, affecting the areas of the brain responsible for movement and coordination.

Electrical stimulation is a mode of physical therapy that can be utilized in the treatment of various nerve and muscle injuries, in addition to patients with acute and chronic pain. It involves an electrical pulse applied to a muscle or nerve that activates excitable tissue utilizing internal or external electrodes to build muscle strength, reduce pain, as well as create or support limb movement (Kerr C, 2007).

Task-specific electrical stimulation (TASES) is a therapeutic technique used primarily in rehabilitation settings to enhance motor function. The primary aim of TASES is to facilitate movement and improve motor learning by applying electrical stimulation to specific muscles during targeted tasks.

Eligibility

Primary outcome measure(s)

• Improved upper limb gross motor skills — after 3 months of treatment
  The Quality of Upper Extremity Skills Test (QUEST) is used by assessment of the weight bearing domain .

Trial sites (1)

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