Validity and reliability of an electromyography-based upper limb assessment quantifying selective voluntary motor control in children with upper motor neuron lesions.

Current clinical assessments evaluating selective voluntary motor control are measured on an ordinal scale. We combined the Selective Control of the Upper Extremity Scale (SCUES) with surface electromyography to develop a more objective and interval-scaled assessment of selective voluntary motor control. The resulting Similarity Index (SI) quantifies the similarity of muscle activation patterns.

Quantifying selective elbow movements during an exergame in children with neurological disorders: a pilot study.

Background: It is difficult to distinguish between restorative and compensatory mechanisms underlying (pediatric) neurorehabilitation, as objective measures assessing selective voluntary motor control (SVMC) are scarce.

Methods: We aimed to quantify SVMC of elbow movements in children with brain lesions. Children played an airplane game with the glove-based YouGrabber system.

Hypertonia Assessment Tool.

The Hypertonia Assessment Tool is a 7-item instrument that discriminates spasticity, dystonia, and rigidity on 3 levels: item scores, subtype, and hypertonia diagnosis for each extremity. We quantified the inter- and intrarater reliability using Kappa statistics, Gwet's first-order agreement coefficient (both with 95% confidence interval), and percentage agreement for all levels. For validity, we compared the Hypertonia Assessment Tool subtype with the clinical diagnosis provided by the physicians.

The relevance of nerve mobility on function and activity in children with Cerebral Palsy.

Background: In children with cerebral palsy (CP), stiffness, caused by contractile and non-contractile structures, can influence motor performance. This study sought to determine whether the nerve mobility had a relevant impact on motor performance in children with CP. We hypothesized that a positive Straight Leg Raise (SLR) test, as well as smaller SLR hip angle, would relate to lower leg muscle strength, reduced motor capacity and less motor performance in children with CP.

Preparing a neuropediatric upper limb exergame rehabilitation system for home-use: a feasibility study.

Background: Home-based, computer-enhanced therapy of hand and arm function can complement conventional interventions and increase the amount and intensity of training, without interfering too much with family routines. The objective of the present study was to investigate the feasibility and usability of the new portable version of the YouGrabber® system (YouRehab AG, Zurich, Switzerland) in the home setting.

Methods: Fifteen families of children (7 girls, mean age: 11.

Translation and construct validity of the Trunk Control Measurement Scale in children and youths with brain lesions.

Trunk control is essential for the performance of everyday tasks. Children with neurological impairments such as cerebral palsy (CP) or acquired brain injury (ABI) commonly show impaired trunk control, which leads to restriction in functional activities. The aim of this study was to provide construct validity of the German version of the Trunk Control Measurement Scale (TCMS).

Practical Recommendations for Robot-Assisted Treadmill Therapy (Lokomat) in Children with Cerebral Palsy: Indications, Goal Setting, and Clinical Implementation within the WHO-ICF Framework.

Active participation and the highest level of independence during daily living are primary goals in neurorehabilitation. Therefore, standing and walking are key factors in many rehabilitation programs. Despite inconclusive evidence considering the best application and efficacy of robotic tools in the field of pediatric neurorehabilitation, robotic technologies have been implemented to complement conventional therapies in recent years.

Construct validity and reliability of the Selective Control Assessment of the Lower Extremity in children with cerebral palsy.

Aim: Assessing impaired selective voluntary movement control in children with cerebral palsy (CP) has gained increasing interest. We investigated construct validity and intra- and interrater reliability of the Selective Control Assessment of the Lower Extremity (SCALE).

Method: Thirty-nine children (21 males, 18 females) with spastic CP, mean age 12 years 6 months [range 6y 11mo-19y 9mo], Gross Motor Function Classification System (GMFCS) levels I to IV, participated.

Reliability and practicability of the straight leg raise test in children with cerebral palsy.

Aim: Preventing restrictions to lower limb movement is part of the treatment given to children with cerebral palsy (CP). Such restrictions can be assessed using the 'straight leg raise' (SLR) test. This study investigated the interrater reliability and practicability of the SLR test in children with CP.

Reliability and Responsiveness of Upper Limb Motor Assessments for Children With Central Neuromotor Disorders: A Systematic Review.

Background: To investigate the effectiveness of upper limb rehabilitation, sound measures of upper limb function, capacity, and performance are paramount.

Objectives: This systematic review investigates reliability and responsiveness of upper limb measurement tools used in pediatric neurorehabilitation.

Methods: A 2-tiered search was conducted up to July 2014.

Robot-assisted gait training might be beneficial for more severely affected children with cerebral palsy.

Purpose: Robot-assisted gait training (RAGT) can complement conventional therapies in children with cerebral palsy. We investigated changes in walking-related outcomes between children with different Gross Motor Function Classification System (GMFCS) levels and the dose-response relationship.

Methods: Data from 67 children (3.

Measurement properties of gait-related outcomes in youth with neuromuscular diagnoses: a systematic review.

Background: Sound measurement properties of outcome tools are essential when evaluating outcomes of an intervention, in clinical practice and in research.

Purpose: The purpose of this study was to review the evidence on reliability, measurement error, and responsiveness of measures of gait function in children with neuromuscular diagnoses.

Data Sources: The MEDLINE, CINAHL, EMBASE, and PsycINFO databases were searched up to June 15, 2012.

Strength training versus robot-assisted gait training after incomplete spinal cord injury: a randomized pilot study in patients depending on walking assistance.

Background: Task-specific locomotor training has been promoted to improve walking-related outcome after incomplete spinal cord injury (iSCI). However, there is also evidence that lower extremity strength training might lead to such improvements. The aim of this randomized cross-over pilot study was to compare changes in a broad spectrum of walking-related outcome measures and pain between robot-assisted gait training (RAGT) and strength training in patients with chronic iSCI, who depended on walking assistance.

Requirements for and impact of a serious game for neuro-pediatric robot-assisted gait training.

We investigated whether children with neurological gait disorders who walked in a driven gait orthosis could adjust their participation level according to the demands of a newly developed rehabilitation game. We further investigated if cognitive capacity and motor impairment influenced game performance. Nineteen children with neurological gait disorders (mean age: 13.

Robot-assisted and computer-enhanced therapies for children with cerebral palsy: current state and clinical implementation.

The field of pediatric neurorehabilitation has rapidly evolved with the introduction of technological advancements over recent years. Rehabilitation robotics and computer-assisted systems can complement conventional physiotherapeutics or occupational therapies. These systems appear promising, especially in children, where exciting and challenging virtual reality scenarios could increase motivation to train intensely in a playful therapeutic environment.

Monitoring motor capacity changes of children during rehabilitation using body-worn sensors.

Background: Rehabilitation services use outcome measures to track motor performance of their patients over time. State-of-the-art approaches use mainly patients' feedback and experts' observations for this purpose. We aim at continuously monitoring children in daily life and assessing normal activities to close the gap between movements done as instructed by caregivers and natural movements during daily life.

Leg surface electromyography patterns in children with neuro-orthopedic disorders walking on a treadmill unassisted and assisted by a robot with and without encouragement.

Background: Robot-assisted gait training and treadmill training can complement conventional physical therapy in children with neuro-orthopedic movement disorders. The aim of this study was to investigate surface electromyography (sEMG) activity patterns during robot-assisted gait training (with and without motivating instructions from a therapist) and unassisted treadmill walking and to compare these with physiological sEMG patterns.

Methods: Nine children with motor impairments and eight healthy children walked in various conditions: (a) on a treadmill in the driven gait orthosis Lokomat®, (b) same condition, with additional motivational instructions from a therapist, and (c) on the treadmill without assistance.

Slowed down: response time deficits in well-recovered subjects with incomplete spinal cord injury.

Objective: To quantify remaining motor deficits in well-recovered subjects with incomplete spinal cord injury.

Design: Case-control study.

Setting: Spinal cord injury center of a university hospital.

Improvement in function after spinal cord injury: the black-box entitled rehabilitation.

Rehabilitation can be referred to as a "black box" because little is known about what specific interventions comprise the rehabilitation process, including patients with spinal cord injury (SCI). Despite that rehabilitation professionals can "see" daily what rehabilitation looks like, the contribution of each intervention to the final outcome of rehabilitation remains unclear. Moreover, there is only limited evidence supporting the efficacy of those interventions.

Curve walking is not better than straight walking in estimating ambulation-related domains after incomplete spinal cord injury.

Objectives: To investigate whether a figure-of-8-shaped walking test can estimate various domains of walking in subjects with incomplete spinal cord injury (iSCI) better than the 10-meter walk test (10MWT), and to explore similarities and differences between the 2 tests and between subjects with iSCI and age-matched, healthy controls.

Design: Case-control study.

Setting: Spinal cord injury center of a university hospital.

Changes in electrical perception threshold within the first 6 months after traumatic spinal cord injury: a multicenter responsiveness study.

Objective: To assess the reliability of the electrical perception threshold (EPT) in healthy participants and its responsiveness in patients for 6 months after traumatic spinal cord injury (SCI).

Methods: The reliability of EPT measures was assessed in 15 healthy volunteers (from C3 to S2). EPT measures were assessed in 37 patients at 1, 3, and 6 months after SCI.

Instrument validity and reliability of a choice response time test for subjects with incomplete spinal cord injury: relationship with function.

Objectives: To investigate instrument validity and reliability of a choice response time (CRT) test for the lower extremities in subjects with incomplete spinal cord injury (iSCI). CRT in subjects with iSCI is hypothesized to be increased because of, for example, muscle weakness or increased corticospinal conduction velocity.

Design: Case-control study.

Virtual realities as motivational tools for robotic assisted gait training in children: A surface electromyography study.

Patient's active cooperation is essential to achieve good outcome in pediatric rehabilitation. Therefore, virtual environments were developed to enhance robotic assisted gait training. The purpose of this study was to evaluate virtual realities as motivational tools during robotic assisted gait training with children in the pediatric Lokomat®.

Gaze strategies for avoiding obstacles: Differences between young and elderly subjects.

Visual input is highly relevant for safely stepping over obstacles. In this study, gaze-behaviour was investigated in elderly, middle-aged and young subjects as they walked on a treadmill repeatedly stepping over obstacles, which approached either on the right or left side. In between obstacle-steps, subjects visually fixated a target N or F located two or four steps ahead on the floor, respectively.