Assessment of Handgrip Strength in Spastic Diplegic Cerebral Palsy Children

Abstract

Objective: The objective of this study was to assess the handgrip strength difference by using a handheld dynamometer in spastic diplegic cerebral palsy children. Methodology: Descriptive cross-sectional study design was done by utilizing a non-probability purposive sampling technique. The study was held at the Pakistan Society of Rehabilitation and Disabled Hospital, Lahore from August 2021 to January 2022. The sample size was 69 calculated by using select-statistics.co.uk with a 5% precision level, both genders of aged 7 to 12 years, and only those having spastic diplegia involving both upper extremities were included. A handheld dynamometer was used for the handgrip strength measurements and data was entered into the self-structured questionnaire. The results are calculated by using sample-paired tests using SPSS. Results: The mean age was 9.014±2.096years, height was 113.67±19.246cm, weight was 20.101±8.711kg, & BMI was 14.907±3.368kg/m2. The mean of the right affected handgrip and the left affected handgrip of cerebral palsy children was 3.744±1.634 & 3.698±1.607 respectively with a p-value > 0.05. Conclusions: It was concluded from the study that there were no statistical differences between right and left handgrips of spastic diplegic cerebral palsy children. Keywords: Cerebral Palsy, Handgrip Strength, Muscle Strength Dynamometer, Muscle Spasticity.