Relationship between Spasticity and Motor Abilities in Children with Hemiplegia

Abstract
Background: Children with spastic hemiplegic cerebral palsy have limited activities of daily living, such as dressing, feeding, and functional mobility, due to problems of the upper limb and hand function. Their gait pattern is characterized by lower speed and lower single stance time in the most compro-mised limb, as well as reduced step length and limb asymmetry.
Aim of Study: To determine if there is a correlation between fine and gross motor abilities of hemiplegic children and their spasticity grade.
Methods: Eleven hemiplegic cerebral palsy children with mild and moderate spasticity were recruited from physical therapy outpatient clinic Cairo University and Abo-Elreesh Hospital; each child was assessed using Gross Motor Function Measure, Modified Ashwarth Scale and Manual Ability Clas-sification System.
Results: There was no significant correlation between the spasticity grade and motor scales.
Conclusion: This article shows that the spasticity grade is not the main factor that affects gross and fine motor abilities of hemiplegic children.