Arm Muscle Strength in Children with Bilateral Spastic CP.

To assess arm-muscle strength related to motor function in children with bilateral spastic cerebral palsy, 5-15 years old. Muscle strength was measured for shoulder abductors, elbow extensors and flexors, wrist extensors, and grip strength. The children were grouped according to the Manual Ability Classification Scale (MACS). Forty-two children were included. The majority of the children at MACS levels I-II were within the normal range; shoulder abductors were weakest (mean 60-80% of predicted value), and variation was greatest for wrist extensors.Children at MACS level II showed lower values than children at level I, with significant differences for shoulder abductors ( Muscle strength was lower and differences were greater between sides in children at MACS level II. Wrist extensors showed a decreasing trend with age as compared with normal development.