Rehabilitation Professionals’ Perception of Differences in Development and Clinical Manifestations Between Right and Left Hemiplegia in Children

Authors

  • Abdulaziz Saeed Alghamdi Rehabilitation Department, King Abdullah Specialist Children Hospital, Ministry of National Guard Health Affairs, Jeddah, Saudi Arabia.
  • Mohammed Elias Tamboosi Rehabilitation Department, King Abdullah Specialist Children Hospital, Ministry of National Guard Health Affairs, Jeddah, Saudi Arabia.
  • Fatmah Ahmed Rasheed Rehabilitation Department, King Abdullah Specialist Children Hospital, Ministry of National Guard Health Affairs, Jeddah, Saudi Arabia.
  • Abdullah Saeed Alghamdi Rehabilitation Department, Asir Central Hospital, Ministry of Health, Saudi Arabia.
  • Lama Abdullah Balghusoun Rehabilitation Department, King Abdullah Specialist Children Hospital, Ministry of National Guard Health Affairs, Jeddah, Saudi Arabia
  • Meshari Ruzayq Alluhaybi Majestic Rehabilitation Center, Medina, Saudi Arabia.
  • Abdulrahman Ayman Alsubahi Physical Therapy Department, College of Applied Science, Cairo university, Egypt.
  • Yazeed Bakheet Alsaedi Rehabilitation Department, King Abdullah Specialist Children Hospital, Ministry of National Guard Health Affairs, Jeddah, Saudi Arabia.

DOI:

https://doi.org/10.62464/xzzshw84

Keywords:

Hemiplegia, cerebral palsy, Lesion laterality, Pediatric rehabilitation, Saudi Arabia

Abstract

Background.  Hemiplegic cerebral palsy presents with lateralized impairments that may influence developmental outcomes. While literature suggests lesion laterality affects domains such as language and spatial awareness, clinical consensus remains unclear. Purpose. To determine whether rehabilitation professionals observe differences in development or functional outcomes between right and left hemiplegia in children. Method. A cross-sectional survey of licensed pediatric rehabilitation professionals was conducted. Quantitative data were analyzed using descriptive statistics, Chi-square test and logistic regression. Qualitative responses were thematically analyzed. Results. 63.3% of total (n=49) pediatrics rehabilitation professionals report perceiving difference between hemiplegia types. Right hemiplegia was significantly associated with speech and language difficulties with a 61.3% of all participants. Motor deficits were the most commonly observed domain with 74.2% of participants. Cultural factors, such as religious emphasis on right-hand use, were noted to influence rehabilitation outcomes. Conclusion. The findings of this study, supported by previous literature, reinforce the hypothesis that developmental and functional differences are perceived between left and right hemiplegic cerebral palsy. Rehabilitation specialists should adopt a holistic approach that considers both lesion severity and cultural norms influencing perceptions of development and function. Integrating neurobiological and sociocultural factors is essential for individualized rehabilitation strategies.

 

 

Author Biographies

  • Abdulaziz Saeed Alghamdi, Rehabilitation Department, King Abdullah Specialist Children Hospital, Ministry of National Guard Health Affairs, Jeddah, Saudi Arabia.

    Physiotherapist II

    Ministry of National Guard Health Affairs, King Abdullah Specialist Children Hospital, Rehabilitation Department, Jeddah, Saudi Arabia. 

    Bachelor’s degree in physical therapy

  • Mohammed Elias Tamboosi, Rehabilitation Department, King Abdullah Specialist Children Hospital, Ministry of National Guard Health Affairs, Jeddah, Saudi Arabia.

    Clinical specialist PT

    - Ministry of National Guard Health Affairs, King Abdullah Specialist Children Hospital, Rehabilitation Department, Jeddah, Saudi Arabia.

    - Imam Abdulrahman Bin Faisal University, College of Applied Medical Science, Physical Therapy Department, Dammam, Saudi Arabia.

    Master’s degree in pediatric physical therapy

  • Fatmah Ahmed Rasheed, Rehabilitation Department, King Abdullah Specialist Children Hospital, Ministry of National Guard Health Affairs, Jeddah, Saudi Arabia.

    Occupational therapist II

    Ministry of National Guard Health Affairs, King Abdullah Specialist Children Hospital, Rehabilitation Department, Jeddah, Saudi Arabia

    bachelor’s degree in occupational therapy

  • Abdullah Saeed Alghamdi, Rehabilitation Department, Asir Central Hospital, Ministry of Health, Saudi Arabia.

    Physical therapy resident.

    Ministry of Health, Asir Central Hospital, Rehabilitation department, Abha, Saudi Arabia

    Bachelor’s degree in physical therapy

  • Lama Abdullah Balghusoun, Rehabilitation Department, King Abdullah Specialist Children Hospital, Ministry of National Guard Health Affairs, Jeddah, Saudi Arabia

    occupational therapist II

     Ministry of National Guard Health Affairs, King Abdullah Specialist Children Hospital, Rehabilitation Department, Jeddah, Saudi Arabia.

    Bachelor’s degree in occupational therapy

  • Meshari Ruzayq Alluhaybi, Majestic Rehabilitation Center, Medina, Saudi Arabia.

    Physiotherapist.

    Majestic Rehabilitation Center, Medina, Saudi Arabia

    Bachelor’s degree in physical therapy.

  • Abdulrahman Ayman Alsubahi, Physical Therapy Department, College of Applied Science, Cairo university, Egypt.

    Physiotherapist

    Cairo university, College of Applied Science, Physical Therapy Department, Egypt, Cairo.

    Master’s degree in pediatric physical therapy

  • Yazeed Bakheet Alsaedi, Rehabilitation Department, King Abdullah Specialist Children Hospital, Ministry of National Guard Health Affairs, Jeddah, Saudi Arabia.

    Occupational therapist II.

    Ministry of National Guard Health Affairs, King Abdullah Specialist Children Hospital, Rehabilitation Department, Jeddah, Saudi Arabia.

    Bachelor’s degree in occupational therapy.

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Published

2025-12-31

Issue

Vol. 4 No. 12 (2025): IJOPRP

Section

Original Research

License

Copyright (c) 2025 International Journal of Physical Therapy Research & Practice

Creative Commons License

This work is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution-NonCommercial-NoDerivatives 4.0 International License.

How to Cite

Rehabilitation Professionals’ Perception of Differences in Development and Clinical Manifestations Between Right and Left Hemiplegia in Children. (2025). International Journal of Physical Therapy Research & Practice, 4(12), 498-510. https://doi.org/10.62464/xzzshw84