Discrete bimanual co-ordination in childeren and young adolescents with hemiparetic cerebral palsy: Recent findings, implications and future research directions

Bimanual coordination is a field that has generated much research interest. It is clear that when hands move simultaneously there is a tendency for such movements to be synchronized (Kelso 1979). This paper provides an overview of past and current work in the area of bimanual coordination looking at the nature of the coupling and the underlying control of such movements. Work on ‘non disabled’ individuals and unimanual reaching and grasping is included but the main emphasis is bimanual coordination in children with hemiplegic cerebral palsy. The direction for future research is discussed and consideration given to the therapeutic implications of such work.