An exploratory pre-post study of an intensive somatosensory activity-based intervention on participation-related goals, motor performance and somatosensory function in children with unilateral cerebral palsy.

Somatosensory impairments are common in children with unilateral cerebral palsy and may be associated with limitations in upper-limb function and daily activities. The aim of this exploratory single-arm pre-post study was to examine pre-post change following a novel intensive somatosensory activity-based intervention (ISABI) targeting the more-affected upper limb, focusing on goal-related occupational performance (primary outcome), upper-limb motor performance, and somatosensory function. Sixteen children aged 6-15 years completed 36 h of intervention over three weeks (30 h clinic-based and 6 h home practice). Outcomes were assessed pre- and post-intervention using the Canadian Occupational Performance Measure (COPM; performance and satisfaction), the Box and Block Test, the Jebsen-Taylor Hand Function Test, and a predefined somatosensory assessment battery covering tactile registration, tactile spatial perception (unilateral and bilateral), graphaesthesia, haptic perception (stereognosis of objects and forms), texture perception, and functional sensibility. Occupational problems were most frequently related to self-care (81.25%), followed by leisure (12.50%) and productivity (6.25%). COPM performance increased by 71.47% and family satisfaction increased by 62.51%. Manual dexterity and hand function improved by 12% (Box and Block Test) and 12.38% (Jebsen-Taylor Hand Function Test), respectively. Somatosensory outcomes showed improvements in several domains, including unilateral and bilateral spatial discrimination, graphaesthesia (33% increase), texture perception (33% increase), and functional sensibility (18.52% increase), while tactile registration and stereognosis showed limited change. These exploratory findings suggest potentially meaningful pre-post changes in goal-related occupational performance and satisfaction, upper-limb motor performance, and selected somatosensory outcomes following ISABI in children with unilateral cerebral palsy. Given the exploratory single-arm pre-post design (no control group and no follow-up), findings should be interpreted cautiously and require confirmation in adequately powered randomised trials with blinded assessment and longer-term follow-up. NCT04235088.