Document Type : Original Articles

Authors

• Zahra Ghorbanpor ¹
• Sayed Ali Hosseini ²
• Roshanak Vamghi ²
• Mehdi Rassafiani ²
• Hamid Dalvand ³
• Pourya Reza Soltani ⁴

¹ MSc Student in Occupational Therapy, University of Social Welfare and Rehabilitation Sciences, Tehran, Iran

² Academic Member, Pediatrics Neurorehabilitation Research Center, Department of Occupational Therapy, University of Social Welfare and Rehabilitation Sciences, Tehran, Iran

³ PhD Student, Department of Occupational Therapy, University of Social Welfare and Rehabilitation Sciences, Tehran, Iran

⁴ MSc in Statistics, University of Social Welfare and Rehabilitation Sciences, Tehran, Iran

Abstract

Introduction: The purpose of this study was to determine the impact of “handling training” to caregivers at home on fine motor development in 6 to 72 months old children with CP.Materials and Methods: In this experimental single-blinded study, forty 6 to 72 months old children with cerebral palsy were recruited from some Tehran rehabilitation clinics based on pre-determined inclusion criteria. Then they were randomly divided into intervention and control groups. The researcher attended residence of intervention group and along with giving advices to adjust and accommodate the home, well-informed the caregivers about the principals of handling in one 4 hour technical training session. Data were collected using a demographic information questionnaire, Peabody Developmental Motor Scales And Activity Cards test (PDMS_R) and gross motor function classification system (GMFCS) test just before  intervention, and 1.5 months and 3 months after intervention period.Results: There were significant differences in fine motor development of two  groups in 1.5 months and 3 months after intervention period than before intervention (P < 0.001(. The average fine motor improvement was statistically significant 3 months after intervention in intervention group (P = 0.043). No significant difference was recorded between groups in average fine motor improvement (1.5 months after intervention) (P = 0.19). In addition, there were no significant differences in average hand use, dexterity and eye hand coordination improvement between two  groups 1.5 months and 3 months after intervention but the average grasp improvement was statistically better in intervention group (P = 0.036).Conclusion: In this study, Handling training on caregivers at home could improve fine motor development of 6-72 months old children with CP in long term (3 months).Keywords: Cerebral palsy children, Handling, Fine motor development, Caregivers