Effect of Action Observation Training Versus Core Stability Training on Hand Functions in Children With Hemiplegic Cerebral Palsy

Cerebral palsy (CP) refers to a collection of permanent mobility and postural impairments that are caused by non-progressive disruptions in the fetal or infant brain throughout development. Children with CP have motor abnormalities that are commonly accompanied by sensory and cognition disorders as well as seizures and secondary musculoskeletal difficulties. Cerebral palsy can be broken down into four basic categories based on the degree of activity restriction: motor abnormalities, accompanying impairments, anatomical and neuroimaging results, and etiology and timing of motor problems . It is a chronic and disabling childhood condition that occurs in 1.5/1,000 to 3/1,000 live births .Pregnancy age under 20 years, birth weight under 2500 gramme , risk factors related to the mother, pregnancy variables (placental dislodgement ,twining), and fetal factors are all examples of CP causes or risk factors(bradycardia, fetal malformation, poor fetal growth) As a well-known neurodevelopmental disorder, CP can begin in early childhood and last throughout life. For example, non-progressive abnormalities in the growing fetus or infant brain might cause activity limitations, poor sensation and cognition as well as mobility and posture issues .

Three out of every 1000 children with CP have a movement and coordination disorders which are compromised in people with CP due to both decreased brain control and secondary alterations in muscle characteristics. It is difficult to quantify the degree and functional significance of changes in muscle characteristics for individual patients with CP, which makes therapy planning difficult .

Early intervention for the upper limb in hemiplegia remains challenging, though progress is being made. It was concluded that the difficulties of outcome assessment in the youngest infants and children, which make evaluation of interventions very difficult. The diversity of the population under study, in terms of lesion type, differences in post-lesional reorganization, and the degree to which other factors such as vision, sensation, and cognitive ability impact on hand function, must also be considered .

Inclusion criteria

• Their age will be ranged from four to eight years.
• Their grade of spasticity will be from 1 to 1+ according to Modified Ashworth scale .
• They will be on Level I and II according to Gross Motor Functional Classification System (GMFCS) .
• The child will be able to follow verbal commands and instructions.

Exclusion criteria

• The children will be excluded if they have one of the following:

• history of orthopedic surgery in the affected upper limb
• Botox injection in the upper limb in the past 6 months or planned to have one during study time

4-Fixed deformities or contructures in spine. 5- A history of epileptic seizure and cardiac or respiratory problems. 6- Severe hearing and visual defect.