For most children with cerebral palsy, the extent to which they can use their hands is critical to their overall development. Over the last two decades there have been major advances in the understanding of hand function. Particularly in children with cerebral palsy, assessment of hand function has become more exact and the range of possible interventions has expanded. Changes in treatment approaches can be seen in neurorehabilitation, orthopaedic management, developmental paediatrics and rehabilitation including occupational and physical therapy practices. In this book, selected experts from around the world in the fields of neuroimaging, neurology, orthopaedics, anatomy, motor control and motor learning provide fundamental theoretical information for the development of hand function in children with cerebral palsy. The book also shows how theory can be translated into practice by clinicians who provide assessment and intervention services to improve hand use in this population in sections written by researchers in occupational and physical therapy. Linking different fields of knowledge, this book highlights new perspectives and provides the best evidence for different types of intervention. By focusing only on hand function this essential book highlights new concepts for clinicians and others working towards the overall well-being of children with cerebral palsy.
Dr Eliasson is Associate Professor at Karolinska Institute, Sweden. She has a firm base in occupational therapy after more than 30 years as a paediatric clinician as well as in research with an interdisciplinary approach. Her research focus has always been on hand function from different perspectives, investigating issues of sensorimotor control of fine motor skills, development and evaluation of treatment methods as well as new assessment tools. Translation of knowledge between different areas of research and clinical practice for investigation of the relationships between function, behaviour and brain lesions in children with cerebral palsy is her challenge.
Dr Burtner is Associate Professor in the Division of Occupational Therapy, Department of Pediatrics at the University of New Mexico (UNM). Her research interests focus on interdisciplinary investigations of motor control issues in children with cerebral palsy with an emphasis on translational research to clinical practice. Dr Burtner has over 25 years of clinical experience serving families of children with disabilities and continues to serve as a consultant to the Neonatology Division at UNM.