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A Comparative Study on Effectiveness of Hand Arm Bimanual Intensive Therapy and Core Stability Exercise on Improving Upper Extremity Function Among Cerebral Palsy Children
Corresponding Author(s) : P. Bright Alwin Victor
International Journal of Allied Medical Sciences and Clinical Research,
Vol. 14 No. 4 (2026): 2026 Volume 14-Issue 4
Abstract
Background: Cerebral palsy (CP) is a group of permanent disorders affecting the development of movement and posture, resulting in activity limitations due to non-progressive disturbances in the developing fetal or infant brain. Children with cerebral palsy commonly experience impaired upper extremity function, reduced bimanual coordination, and poor trunk control, which may interfere with activities of daily living and functional independence. Hand–Arm Bimanual Intensive Therapy (HABIT) promotes task-specific and repetitive bimanual practice to improve upper extremity function, whereas Core Stability Exercises aim to enhance proximal stability and postural control to facilitate functional upper limb movements. Although both interventions are used in pediatric neurorehabilitation, evidence directly comparing their effects remains limited.
Objective: To compare the effectiveness of Hand–Arm Bimanual Intensive Therapy and Core Stability Exercises in improving upper extremity function among children with cerebral palsy.
Methods: A comparative study was conducted among children with spastic cerebral palsy who fulfilled the specified inclusion and exclusion criteria. Twenty participants were allocated into two groups, with 10 participants in each group. Group A received Hand–Arm Bimanual Intensive Therapy, while Group B received Core Stability Exercises. Both groups underwent intervention for 45–50 minutes per session, three sessions per week, for a total duration of 8 weeks. Upper extremity function and trunk control were assessed before and after the intervention using the Jebsen–Taylor Hand Function Test (JTHFT) and the Trunk Control Measurement Scale (TCMS), respectively.
Results: Twenty children with cerebral palsy completed the study. Both groups demonstrated significant improvements following the intervention. The mean TCMS score increased from 32.20 ± 2.14 to 45.60 ± 2.06 in Group A and from 32.50 ± 1.58 to 39.50 ± 1.58 in Group B. Similarly, the mean JTHFT completion time decreased from 90.90 ± 3.95 seconds to 68.70 ± 3.40 seconds in Group A and from 92.70 ± 2.75 seconds to 81.90 ± 2.51 seconds in Group B. These findings indicate improvement in trunk control and hand function in both groups, with greater improvement observed in Group A.
Conclusion: Both Hand–Arm Bimanual Intensive Therapy and Core Stability Exercises demonstrated improvements in upper extremity function and trunk control among children with cerebral palsy following an 8-week intervention. Greater improvement was observed in the Hand–Arm Bimanual Intensive Therapy group, particularly in JTHFT and TCMS outcomes. The findings suggest that HABIT may provide beneficial effects on functional upper limb performance in children with cerebral palsy.