Name two scales used to assess selective motor control in cerebral palsy and indicate their primary purpose.

Name two scales used to assess selective motor control in cerebral palsy and indicate their primary purpose.

• A. SCALE and SCUES; to quantify the ability to perform isolated movements.
• B. GMFM; to measure gross motor function.
• C. AHA and Box and Block Test; to assess hand function.
• D. CPQOL; to evaluate quality of life.

Answer: (A)

Selective motor control is the ability to move one joint or muscle group in isolation without unintended movements elsewhere. SCALE and SCUES are the two scales designed to quantify exactly that in cerebral palsy. SCALE assesses lower-extremity selective control by having a person perform isolated movements at key leg joints and rating how well those movements are produced without accompanying synergies or overflow. SCUES does the same for the upper limb, evaluating isolated ability across shoulder, elbow, forearm, and hand movements. Together, they provide a focused measure of how well a person can selectively activate muscles, which is different from overall gross motor function (GMFM), hand dexterity tests like AHA or Box and Block, or quality-of-life measures like CPQOL.

Selective motor control is the ability to move one joint or muscle group in isolation without unintended movements elsewhere. SCALE and SCUES are the two scales designed to quantify exactly that in cerebral palsy. SCALE assesses lower-extremity selective control by having a person perform isolated movements at key leg joints and rating how well those movements are produced without accompanying synergies or overflow. SCUES does the same for the upper limb, evaluating isolated ability across shoulder, elbow, forearm, and hand movements. Together, they provide a focused measure of how well a person can selectively activate muscles, which is different from overall gross motor function (GMFM), hand dexterity tests like AHA or Box and Block, or quality-of-life measures like CPQOL.