Upper Extremity Assessment in Children with Physical Impairments Receiving Intensive Rehabilitative Therapy in a Community Setting

This prospective study examined upper extremity (UE) assessment results in a pediatric community setting and evaluated whether significant kinematic (motion) and functional changes would be observed after rehabilitative intervention. Children with physical impairments (n = 34) receiving 3 weeks of intensive therapy at a health camp completed pre-/postintervention assessments. The assessments included both an UE motion analysis system and the Shriners Hospital for Children Upper Extremity Evaluation (SHUEE). Chart review provided demographic and health background information. Therapeutic intervention was documented and included descriptive functional assessments. Linear regression was used to examine changes after 3 weeks of intensive therapy. There were significant improvements in all three components of the SHUEE for the affected UE. Ranges of motion increased across eight of 10 tasks measured by motion analysis (p < 0.01). We conclude that intensive therapy in a community setting improves UE functional scores and increases ranges of motion in children with physical impairments.