Fine Motor Skills

The goal of this observational study is to learn how respiratory function and respiratory muscle strength are related to hand use in children and teenagers with hemiparetic cerebral palsy (CP) aged 6 to 18 years. The main questions it aims to answer are: Is respiratory function related to hand function in children with hemiparetic CP? Is respiratory muscle strength related to hand function in children with hemiparetic CP? Is respiratory function related to how strong children can squeeze with their affected hand? Is respiratory muscle strength related to how strong children can squeeze with their affected hand? Is respiratory function related to how well children use their hands in daily activities? Is respiratory muscle strength related to how well children use their hands in daily activities? Is respiratory function related to children's hand skill level? Is respiratory muscle strength related to children's hand skill level? Participants will: Visit the clinic one time for a single assessment session. Do simple lung tests using a small portable device to measure respiratory function. Do tests that measure how strong their breathing muscles are. Complete hand and arm tests, including: A hand grip strength test, A simple block-moving test, A short questionnaire about using the hand in daily life, A standard hand skill rating. Researchers will look at how respiratory measures are related to hand strength, hand skills, and daily hand use. This study may help improve rehabilitation programs by showing whether respiratory muscle strength and hand skills should be trained together in children with hemiparetic CP.

The aim of this study is to determine if an 8 week fine motor intervention program will lead to improve fine motor skills as measured by a standardized assessment (PDMS-3) in pre- and post-test.