Thermograpic study of upper extremities in patients with cerebral palsy

Abstract

Trophic disorders like reduced skin blood circulation are well−known epiphenomenon of cerebral palsy (CP). They can influence quality of life and can lead to skin damages and, as a consequence, to decubitus. Therefore, it is important to analyse temperature regulation in patients with CP. Thermal imaging camera FLIR BCAM SD was used to study the dependency of skin blood circulation in upper extremities of patients with CP on hand dominance, hand force and hand volume. The hand force was evaluated using a conventional dynamometer. The hand volume was measured with a volumeter. A cold stress test for hands was applied in 22 patients with CP and 6 healthy subjects. The warming up process after the test was recorded with the thermal camera. It was confirmed that the hands of patients warm up slower comparing to healthy persons. The patients’ working hands warm up faster than non−working ones. A slight correlation was established between the hand grip force of the working hands and their warm up time. No correlation was found between the warming up time and the volume of the hand. The results confirm our assumption that there is a connection of peripheral blood circulation to upper limb motor functions.

Biomedical musculoskeletal applications of infrared thermal imaging on arm and forearm: A systematic review

“…In contrast, in order to assess upper limbs temperature regulation on cerebral palsy patients, Lampe et al (2015) performed a thermographic evaluation of the forearm thermal recovery, after cold provocation. It was confirmed that healthy participants had a better forearm thermal recovery than the cerebral palsy patients.…”

Temporal effects of two interferential current applications on peripheral circulation in children with hemiplegic cerebral palsy

“…The knowledge on problems with skin blood circulation and increased warm-up times should be noticed by people who take care of persons with disabilities especially patients with lower mobility level. 11 …”

“…Cold extremities and poor peripheral BF found in children with CP are relatively associated with the malfunction of ANS. 11 Interferential electrical stimulation that deeply penetrates the body may reinstate BF by sympathetic nervous system adjustment. 14 , 15 …”

Thermographic signs of spastic type cerebral palsy in 4–7 years old children: protocol and data analysis

“…Нарастание асимметричности термопаттерна туловища после двигательной нагрузки за счет снижения температуры на стороне патологии зафиксировано у пациента с гемиплегией [30]. О сниженной температуре конечностей, особенно их дистальных отделов, у детей с тяжелыми формами двигательных нарушений сообщают многие исследователи [31][32][33]. Высказано предположение, что периферическая гипотермия у этой категории пациентов является следствием дефицита центрального контроля над балансом между симпатической и парасимпатической активностью, что известно как дисавтономия (dysautonomias) [34].…”