Abstract
CASE HISTORY: 27-year-old Caucasian male diagnosed with spastic quadriplegic cerebral palsy (CP) presented with long-standing difficulty performing dressing-related tasks requiring fine motor control, including buttoning and zipper manipulation. These limitations reduced independence in activities of daily living despite the use of compensatory strategies. The purpose of this case study was to evaluate the effects of a task-specific fine motor training intervention targeting dressing-related dexterity. PHYSICAL EXAM: Baseline functional assessment demonstrated impaired finger isolation, slowed movement speed, increased spasticity within both fingers and carpus, and reduced coordination, with greater impairment in the non-dominant (L) hand. DIFFERENTIAL DIAGNOSES: Fine motor impairment secondary to spastic quadriplegic CP; spasticity-related hand dysfunction; neuromuscular coordination deficits; impaired motor planning. TESTS & RESULTS: Fine motor performance was assessed bilaterally using the Nine-Hole Peg Test (9-HPT). Tactility boards were constructed with zippers, buttons, eyelets, and clasps to help improve dressing-related dexterity. Following a four-week task-specific intervention, 9-HPT performance improved bilaterally. Dominant (R) hand completion time improved from 186 to 173 seconds (7.44%), while non-dominant (L) hand time improved from 612 to 598 seconds (2.04%). Peg placement rate increased from 0.048 to 0.052 pegs per second in the dominant hand and from 0.0147 to 0.0150 pegs per second in the non-dominant hand. FINAL DIAGNOSIS: Fine motor dexterity impairment affecting dressing independence secondary to spastic quadriplegic cerebral palsy. DISCUSSION: Task-specific, occupation-based training resulted in measurable improvements in fine motor performance, suggesting retained functional adaptability in adulthood despite lifelong motor impairment. OUTCOME OF THE CASE: The participant demonstrated improved efficiency and confidence during dressing-related tasks following the intervention. RETURN TO ACTIVITY AND FURTHER FOLLOW-UP: Continued task-specific practice with use of tactility boards while increasing the complexity of tasks were recommended to support maintenance of functional gains and independence.
Recommended Citation
Sinor, Andrew J. and Mikan, Vanessa PhD
(2026)
"Improving Finger Dexterity for Dressing Independence in an Adult With Cerebral Palsy: A Task-Specific Training Case Study,"
International Journal of Exercise Science: Conference Proceedings: Vol. 2:
Iss.
18, Article 129.
Available at:
https://digitalcommons.wku.edu/ijesab/vol2/iss18/129