Nondominant arm restraint and dominant arm function in a child with athetoid cerebral palsy: electromyographic and functional evaluation

Abstract

This single case study was designed to determine the effect of restraining the nondominant arm on the function of the dominant arm of a child with athetoid cerebral palsy. Performance time of shoulder horizontal adduction was computed with and without the restraint. Electromyographic (EMG) activity of selected muscles was simultaneously monitored by surface electrodes. Performance time was less when the arm restraint was applied. Generally, tonic and phasic EMG activity decreased in all muscles monitored. The results show that upper extremity motor function improved in the dominant arm when the nondominant arm was restrained and that myoelectric activity was not adversely affected when the restraint was applied.