Constraints on grip selection in cerebral palsy - Minimising discomfort

The present study examined whether movement characteristics of individuals with spastic hemiparesis could be accounted for by disorders in movement pl anning. Two experiments were performed that tested minimisation of postural discomfort and minimisation of movement costs as constraints on grip selec tion. In the Ist experiment, spastic subjects and controls had to pick up a bar and place it in one of 5 boxes with either the left or right side down . In addition, awkwardness ratings of the different postures were given. Mi nimisation of posture discomfort as constraint on grip selection was examin ed. In line with previous studies, grip selection for the control subjects was based on minimisation of end posture discomfort. For the unimpaired han d of the spastic subjects, no discrimination was made in discomfort ratings among the different postures. Accordingly, with this hand, subjects showed no preference for a particular grip type. The posture ratings for the impa ired hand were more varied both within and between spastic subjects, and mi nimisation of discomfort at either the start or end could not completely ac count for the grips chosen. Rather, the results suggest that minimisation o f total posture discomfort acted as a constraint on grip selection for this hand. In the 2nd experiment, minimisation of total movement costs as a con straint on grip selection was tested. Spastic subjects and a control group had to grasp a bar on a clockface and rotate one end to the top position, s tarting from 15 different starting positions. Again, the end-state comfort effect was demonstrated in the control group. For the impaired hand of the spastic subjects, minimisation of total movement costs as expressed by a re duction of the total amount of joint rotation was shown to account for the grips chosen. The lack of consistency in grip selection for the unimpaired hand at some starting positions seemed to stem from an unresolved conflict between minimisation of end posture discomfort and minimisation of total mo vement costs. The combined results of the two experiments suggest that grip planning in spastic hemiparetic subjects is not disturbed per se. Rather, different constraints are imposed during the grip selection process. If mov ements are difficult to execute (i.e. because the hand is impaired), grip p lanning proceeded by a minimisation of total movement costs by choosing a t ask solution that reduced the total amount of joint rotation.