Protocol of Reddihough et al for Grading Unilateral Upper Limb Skills for a Child with Cerebral Palsy

Patient selection: child with cerebral palsy

 

Testing: unilateral upper extremity

 

Parameters:

(1) range of shoulder during forward reach to an object

(2) range of elbow during forward reach to an object

(3) range of wrist during forward reach to an object

(4) speed during forward reach to an object

(5) target accuracy during forward reach to an object

(6) speed while moving hand to mouth

(7) target accuracy while moving hand to mouth

(8) speed while moving hand to lumbar spine

(9) target accuracy while moving hand to lumbar spine

(10) ability to grasp a film capsule

(11) ability to release a film capsule

(12) prehension of a piece of 0.5 inch dowel

(13) able to poke with index finger

(14) able to shake a film capsule

(15) able to invert film capsule without trunk movement

 

where:

• A film capsule is a cylindrical body about 1 inch in diameter and 1.5 cm long.

 

For items 1 to 9 performance is scored:

 

Performance	Points
normal	3
good	2
fair	1
poor	0

 

For item 10

 

Elbow and Wrist	Grasp	Points
elbow extended and wrist extended or mid-range	radial-digital	5
	radial palmar	4
	palmar	3
	primitive squeeze	2
elbow or wrist remain flexed	radial-digital	4
	radial palmar	3
	palmar	2
	primitive squeeze	1

 

where:

• I assume that there is an option for unable to perform, scored 0 points.

 

For item 11

 

Elbow and Wrist	Release	Points
elbow and/or wrist in mid to full range	into a small container	4
	into a large container	3
	onto surface	2
elbow or wrist remain flexed	into a small container	3
	into a large container	2
	onto surface	1

 

where:

• I assume that there is an option for unable to perform, scored 0 points.

 

For item 12

 

Performance	Points
tripod	4
fine pincer	3
inferior pincer	2
inferior scissor	1

 

where:

• I assume that there is an option for unable to perform, scored 0 points.

 

For items 13 to 15 performance is scored:

 

Performance	Points
able	2
unable	0

 

total score =

= SUM(points for all 15 items)

 

Interpretation:

• minimum score: 0 (if assumptions true; else 3)

• maximum score: 46

• The higher the score the better the performance.

 

conversion to 100 score =

= (score) / 46 * 100