Selective Control of the Upper Extremity Scale: validation of a clinical assessment tool for children with hemiplegic cerebral palsy

Abstract

Aim The ability to determine the relationship between selective motor control and upper extremity function in children with unilateral cerebral palsy (CP), and to measure the functional outcome and efficacy of interventions designed to improve selective motor control, has been limited by the lack of an objective, validated tool. The primary objective of this study is to describe the development of a clinical tool entitled Selective Control of the Upper Extremity Scale (SCUES), and present evidence of its validity and reliability. Method Content validity was established through an expert panel (eight clinicians, mean and median of 17y of clinical experience, range 2–30y). Intra‐ and interrater reliability was determined by six occupational therapists who scored 10 participant studies. Construct validity of the SCUES was established by comparison to the spontaneous functional analysis section of the Shriners Hospitals Upper Extremity Evaluation, the Manual Ability Classification System, and the Box and Block test for 25 children with unilateral CP. Results The content validity ratio values were greater than 0 (indicating >50% agreement) for 33 of the 34 items (97%), and equal or greater than 0.5 (indicating ≥75% agreement) for 26 of the 34 items (76%). Intrarater reliability was excellent (intraclass correlation coefficient [ICC] >0.75) for all segments and joints of the affected extremity. Interrater reliability was excellent for all segments and joints of the affected extremity except the shoulder (ICC=0.72). The SCUES was strongly correlated with the SHUEE (Spearman's rho=0.69, p=0.003). The SCUES was not correlated with the Manual Ability Classification System (rho=−0.24, p=0.369) or the Box and Block test (rho=0.47, p=0.066). Interpretation Psychometric analysis of the SCUES revealed comparable validity to other accepted video‐based clinical assessment tools for the upper extremity in children with CP.

Clinical assessment and three-dimensional movement analysis: An integrated approach for upper limb evaluation in children with unilateral cerebral palsy

“…Future studies incorporating the assessment of selective motor control, as measured with e.g. the ‘Selective Control of the Upper Extremity Scale’ [25], will increase our understanding of the role of motor selectivity in UL movement pathology.…”

The Effectiveness of Kinesiotaping, Sham Taping or Exercises Only in Lateral Epicondylitis Treatment: A Randomized Controlled Study

“…Effect sizes were also calculated for the between-group comparisons by using GPower V.3.1.7 (University of Kiel, Kiel, Germany) as previously described by Guo et al 10 ; 95% CI was also calculated for the effect sizes via an Excel spreadsheet. 33 The effect sizes were generally defined as small (d = 0.2), medium (d = 0.5), and large (d = 0.8). 34 The PRTEE scores were submitted to a 2-way repeated measure analysis of variance (ANOVA) with time (before treatment, after treatment and 4 weeks after treatment) as the within-subject factor and group (kinesiotaping plus exercises, sham taping plus exercises, and exercises only groups) as the between-subject factor.…”

“…The Mann‐Whitney U test was used to analyze differences between groups. Effect sizes were also calculated for the between‐group comparisons by using GPower V.3.1.7 (University of Kiel, Kiel, Germany) as previously described by Guo et al; 95% CI was also calculated for the effect sizes via an Excel spreadsheet . The effect sizes were generally defined as small (d = 0.2), medium (d = 0.5), and large (d = 0.8) .…”

Manual Dexterity and Intralimb Coordination Assessment to Distinguish Different Levels of Impairment in Boccia Players with Cerebral Palsy

“…The challenge becomes even more complex when the individual with CP displays hand and arm coordination problems, supported by the large ES obtained in the CVTTB. Therefore, grabbing a ball while performing reaching movements might cause, due to diminished selective motor control, an increase in hand and arm muscle tone ( 45 ).…”