The Effect of Tactile Deficit on Motor Function in Unilateral Cerebral Palsy

Tactile function was evaluated mainly as tactile registration by using 20-item Semmes-Weinstein monofilament (SWM) kit. The monofilament was applied three times with a pseudorandom order to distal pad of the thumb, index, 4th and 5th digits (C6, C7 and C8 dermatomes). The lowest value of monofilament was recorded which the child was able to correctly identify at least one touch out of three

Box and Block Test (BBT) was used for dexterity assessment. The BBT measures unilateral gross manual dexterity. The child was asked to move, one by one, the maximum number of blocks from one compartment of a box to another of equal size within 60 seconds

9-Hole Peg Test (9-HPT) is used to measure finger dexterity. Firstly, the child takes the pegs from a container, one by one, and place them in the holes on the board; then participant removes the pegs from the holes and replaces them back into the container. The total time taken to complete the test is recorded in seconds.

Duruöz Hand Index (DHI) is an 18-item self-report questionnaire regarding ability to carry out manual tasks. Individual items are scored on a 6-point Likert scale where 0=without difficulty and 5=impossible. The total score ranges from 0-90 with higher scores indicating poorer hand function.

Hand grip strength was measured by using Jamar hydraulic hand dynamometer. Measurement was done with the participant in sitting position and the elbow at 90 degrees of flexion. The force has most commonly been measured in kilograms according to the amount of static force that the hand can squeeze around the dynamometer.

Hydraulic pinch gauge is used for evaluation of finger grip strength. The evaluation method was the same as Jamar hand dynamometer.