Quantifying toddler exploration in different postures with powered mobility.

Access to powered mobility can support play and development for toddlers with disabilities. Using powered mobility in a standing posture has been theorized to support development of muscle coordination, balance, head and trunk stability, and transition to ambulation. The purpose of this study was to quantify and characterize joystick control, bodyweight support, and muscle activity while using the Permobil Explorer Mini in seated and supported standing postures.

Perceptions and experiences of first mobility aid provision for young children with cerebral palsy in the United States: a mixed-methods study.

Purpose: The purpose of this study was to establish and understand the provision process and impacts of first mobility aids for children with cerebral palsy (CP) in the United States - specifically orthoses, walkers and gait-trainers.

Methods: We performed a mixed-methods study including surveys and semi-structured interviews of caregivers of young children with CP ( = 10) and clinicians who work with young children with CP ( = 29). We used content analysis for the surveys and inductive coding for the interviews.

"That's frustrating": Perceptions of ankle foot orthosis provision, use, and needs among people with cerebral palsy and caregivers.

Background: Cerebral palsy (CP) affects roughly 3 per 1000 births in the United States and is the most common pediatric developmental motor disability. Ankle foot orthoses (AFOs) are commonly prescribed to provide support and improve function for individuals with CP.

Objectives: The study objective was to evaluate the lived experiences of individuals with CP and their caregivers regarding AFO access, use, and priorities.

Energy consumption does not change after selective dorsal rhizotomy in children with spastic cerebral palsy.

Aim: To determine whether energy consumption changes after selective dorsal rhizotomy (SDR) among children with cerebral palsy (CP).

Method: We retrospectively evaluated net nondimensional energy consumption during walking among 101 children with bilateral spastic CP who underwent SDR (59 males, 42 females; median age [5th centile, 95th centile] 5y 8mo [4y 2mo, 9y 4mo]) compared to a control group of children with CP who did not undergo SDR. The control group was matched by baseline age, spasticity, and energy consumption (56 males, 45 females; median age [5th centile, 95th centile] 5y 8mo [4y 1mo, 9y 6mo]).

Proteoglycans contribute locally to swelling, but globally to compressive mechanics, in intact cervine medial meniscus.

Loss of charged proteoglycans in the knee meniscus, which aid in the support of compressive loads by entraining water, is an effect of degeneration and is often associated with osteoarthritis. In healthy menisci, proteoglycan content is highest in the inner white zone and decreases towards the peripheral red zone. We hypothesized that loss of proteoglycans would reduce both osmotic swelling and compressive stiffness, spatially localized to the avascular white zone of the meniscus.

White-Tailed Deer as an Ex Vivo Knee Model: Joint Morphometry and ACL Rupture Strength.

Animal joints are valuable proxies for those of humans in biomechanical studies, however commonly used quadruped knees differ greatly from human knees in scale and morphometry. To test the suitability of the cervine stifle joint (deer knee) as a laboratory model, gross morphometry, ACL cross section, and ACL rupture strength were measured and compared to values previously reported for the knees of humans and commonly studied animals. Twelve knee joints from wild white-tailed deer were tested.