Assessment of upper-limb function and movement in children with cerebral palsy wearing lycra garments

It has recently been suggested that lycra garments are helpful for children with cerebral palsy (CP), Twelve children, with athetosis, ataxia, and spa sticity, were fitted with lycra garments (Kendall-Camp UK Ltd). Scores on t he Paediatric Evaluation of Disability Inventory (PEDI) scales were determi ned before and after wearing the garment for at least 6 hours a day for 6 w eeks, Five children with motor problems representative of the whole group w ere investigated during a reach-and-grasp task by kinematic motion analysis ; reflective markers were used with and without the garment. Carers were gi ven a questionnaire concerning the practicalities of using the garments, Al l 12 children made improvements in at least one of the functional scales of the PEDI, and scores for the whole group showed significant gains (Wilcoxo n chi (2) test, self-help p < 0.01; mobility p < 0.5; social p < 0.1). Thes e changes were usually slight, although noticed by carers, Six children mad e gains of at least one scale of the caregiver assistance scores, two of th e children showed losses (due to difficulties removing the garment for toil eting),and four showed no change, Motion analysis indicated that (1) two ch ildren with athetosis had improved proximal stability in sitting and in smo othness of arm movements, (2) one child with ataxia had improved in proxima l and distal stability, and (3) two children with spasticity had more jerky movements, although one improved in proximal stability, All children had p roblems in wearing the garments, including problems with toileting and inco ntinence of urine; the parents of only one child wanted to continue using i t, Results suggest that the functional benefit of lycra garments for childr en with CP is mainly due to improvements in proximal stability but this sho uld be weighed against the inconvenience and loss of independence.