Influence of Visual Dependence on Inter-Segmental Coordination during Upright Stance in Cerebral Palsy.

The presence of visual dependence as an influential factor on the development of functional stability in ambulatory individuals with cerebral palsy (CP) was studied in 22 adults with spastic bilateral CP, 11 of whom were considered visually dependent, and 18 healthy adults. Participants stood upright during pitch plane disturbances of the visual field and support surface. Intersegmental coordination behaviors were assessed by fitting trajectories of adjacent body segments to an ellipse.

Visual dependence affects postural sway responses to continuous visual field motion in individuals with cerebral palsy.

Unlabelled: The current study aimed to explore the impact of visual dependence on sensorimotor coupling of postural sway and visual motion in adults and teens with spastic cerebral palsy (CP). We hypothesized that individuals with CP would exhibit greater magnitudes of sway than healthy individuals, and the presence of visual dependence (VD) would produce instability in the direction of visual motion. Participants stood in a virtual environment in which the visual scene remained static or continuously rotated 30 degree/second in pitch-up or pitch-down.

Postural responses of adults with cerebral palsy to combined base of support and visual field rotation.

We employed a virtual environment to examine the postural behaviors of adults with cerebral palsy (CP). Four adults with CP (22-32 years) and nine healthy adults (21-27 years) were tested with a Rod and Frame protocol. They then stood quietly on a platform within a three-wall virtual environment.

The relationship between spasticity and muscle volume of the knee extensors in children with cerebral palsy.

Purpose: The purpose of this study was to examine the relationship between spasticity and muscle volume in children with cerebral palsy (CP), using isokinetic dynamometry and magnetic resonance imaging.

Methods: A retrospective sample of 8 children with diplegic CP was analyzed. One set of 10 passive knee flexion movements was completed at a velocity of 180° per second with concurrent surface electromyography of the medial hamstrings (MH) and vastus lateralis (VL) to assess knee extensor spasticity.

Muscle changes following cycling and/or electrical stimulation in pediatric spinal cord injury.

Objective: To determine the effect of cycling, electrical stimulation, or both, on thigh muscle volume and stimulated muscle strength in children with spinal cord injury (SCI).

Design: Randomized controlled trial.

Setting: Children's hospital specializing in pediatric SCI.

Effects of a supported speed treadmill training exercise program on impairment and function for children with cerebral palsy.

Aim: To compare the effects of a supported speed treadmill training exercise program (SSTTEP) with exercise on spasticity, strength, motor control, gait spatiotemporal parameters, gross motor skills, and physical function.

Method: Twenty-six children (14 males, 12 females; mean age 9y 6mo, SD 2y 2mo) with spastic cerebral palsy (CP; diplegia, n=12; triplegia, n=2; quadriplegia n=12; Gross Motor Function Classification System levels II-IV) were randomly assigned to the SSTTEP or exercise (strengthening) group. After a twice daily, 2-week induction, children continued the intervention at home 5 days a week for 10 weeks.

Continuous visual field motion impacts the postural responses of older and younger women during and after support surface tilt.

The effect of continuous visual flow on the ability to regain and maintain postural orientation was examined. Fourteen young (20-39 years old) and 14 older women (60-79 years old) stood quietly during 3° (30°/s) dorsiflexion tilt of the support surface combined with 30° and 45°/s upward or downward pitch rotations of the visual field. The support surface was held tilted for 30 s and then returned to neutral over a 30-s period while the visual field continued to rotate.

Trunk and hip muscle activity in early walkers with and without cerebral palsy--a frequency analysis.

Poor control of postural muscles is a primary impairment in cerebral palsy (CP), yet core trunk and hip muscle activity has not been thoroughly investigated. Frequency analysis of electromyographic (EMG) signals provides insight about the intensity and pattern of muscle activation, correlates with functional measures in CP, and is sensitive to change after intervention. The objective of this study was to investigate differences in trunk and hip muscle activation frequency in children with CP compared to children with similar amounts of walking experience and typical development (TD).

Trunk and hip muscle activation patterns are different during walking in young children with and without cerebral palsy.

Background: Poor control of postural muscles is a primary impairment in people with cerebral palsy (CP).

Objective: The purpose of this study was to investigate differences in the timing characteristics of trunk and hip muscle activity during walking in young children with CP compared with children with typical development (TD).

Methods: Thirty-one children (16 with TD, 15 with CP) with an average of 28.

Variability and symmetry of gait in early walkers with and without bilateral cerebral palsy.

Purpose: Investigating gait characteristics during the early stages of walking in CP may contribute to the understanding of the development of impaired gait. The objective of this study was to investigate differences in the variability and symmetry of spatiotemporal gait characteristics during the early years of walking in children with bilateral spastic CP compared to children with similar amounts of walking experience and typical development (TD).

Methods: The spatiotemporal gait parameters of 31 children (15 with spastic CP, 16 with TD) who had an average of 28.

Relationship between age and spasticity in children with diplegic cerebral palsy.

Objective: To examine the relationship between passive torque, reflex activity, co-contraction, and age during the assessment of spasticity of knee flexors and extensors in children with spastic diplegic cerebral palsy (CP).

Design: Retrospective.

Setting: Pediatric orthopedic hospital.

Age and electromyographic frequency alterations during walking in children with cerebral palsy.

The use of surface electromyography (sEMG) recorded during ambulation has provided valuable insight into motor development and changes with age in the pediatric population. However, no studies have reported sEMG differences with age in the children with cerebral palsy (CP). In this study, data from 50 children were divided retrospectively into four groups, representing either an older (above the age of seven years) or younger (below the age of seven years) age group with either typical development (TD) or CP.

A randomized controlled trial on the effects of cycling with and without electrical stimulation on cardiorespiratory and vascular health in children with spinal cord injury.

Objective: To examine the cardiorespiratory/vascular effects of cycling with and without functional electrical stimulation (FES) in children with spinal cord injury (SCI).

Design: Randomized controlled trial.

Setting: Pediatric referral hospital.

Use of the Teager-Kaiser Energy operator for muscle activity detection in children.

The purpose of this study was to demonstrate the usefulness of the Teager-Kaiser Energy (TKE) operator to assess surface electromyographic (sEMG) activity from the hip and trunk muscles during pediatric gait in children with and without cerebral palsy (CP). Muscle activity was recorded from the trapezius, erector spinae, rectus abdominus, external oblique, gluteus maximus and medius, rectus femoris, and semitendinosus bilaterally in ten children with typical development (TD) and five children with CP ages 44.4 +/- 18.

Impact of cycling on hip subluxation in children with spinal cord injury.

Background: Hip subluxation is common in children with spinal cord injury, especially in those younger than 10 years. The effects of standing with functional electrical stimulation (FES) on hip subluxation have been studied in these children. However, FES cycling is now available to children with spinal cord injury, but the effect of this intervention on hip subluxation has not been studied.

Incidental findings during functional magnetic resonance imaging: ethical and procedural issues.

Incidental findings during fMRI: ethical and procedural issues.This purpose of this report was to describe the discovery of an incidental finding during functional magnetic resonance imaging in a child of typical development. During the completion of a functional magnetic resonance imaging protocol, an abnormality was noted by a board-certified neuroradiologist that was identified as a benign developmental arachnoid pouch.

The effects of a shank guide on cycling biomechanics of an adolescent with cerebral palsy: a single-case study.

Objective: To examine 3-dimensional lower-extremity joint kinematics and muscle activity during cycling with and without a shank guide for a single subject with spastic diplegic cerebral palsy (CP).

Design: Single case.

Setting: Pediatric referral hospital.

Roles of reflex activity and co-contraction during assessments of spasticity of the knee flexor and knee extensor muscles in children with cerebral palsy and different functional levels.

Background And Purpose: Spasticity is a common impairment in children with cerebral palsy (CP). The purpose of this study was to examine differences in passive resistive torque, reflex activity, coactivation, and reciprocal facilitation during assessments of the spasticity of knee flexor and knee extensor muscles in children with CP and different levels of functional ability.

Subjects: Study participants were 20 children with CP and 10 children with typical development (TD).

Outcomes of a home cycling program using functional electrical stimulation or passive motion for children with spinal cord injury: a case series.

Background/objective: Children with spinal cord injury (SCI) are at risk for musculoskeletal and cardiovascular complications. Stationary cycling using functional electrical stimulation (FES) or passive motion has been suggested to address these complications. The purpose of this case series is to report the outcomes of a 6-month at-home cycling program for 4 children with SCI.

Examination of spasticity of the knee flexors and knee extensors using isokinetic dynamometry with electromyography and clinical scales in children with spinal cord injury.

Background/objective: To examine the role of reflex activity in spasticity and the relationship between peak passive torque, Ashworth Scale (AS), and Spasm Frequency Scale (SFS) of the knee flexors and extensors during the measurement of spasticity using an isokinetic dynamometer in children with spinal cord injury (SCI).

Methods: Eighteen children with chronic SCI and 10 children of typical development (TD) participated. One set of 10 passive movements was completed using an isokinetic dynamometer at 15, 90, and 180 degrees per second (deg/s) while surface electromyographic data were collected from the vastus lateralis (VL) and medial hamstrings (MH).

Exercise testing using upper extremity ergometry in pediatric spinal cord injury.

Purpose: To describe an upper extremity ergometer test for children with spinal cord injury (SCI) and examine differences based on injury level for peak heart rate (HR peak), oxygen uptake (VO 2 peak/kg), and peak power output per kilogram (W peak/kg).

Methods: Twenty-nine children with motor complete SCI participated. Nine had low cervical (C7, C8), 9 had upper thoracic (T1-T4), and 11 had mid/low thoracic (T5-T11) SCI.

Lower extremity muscle activity during cycling in adolescents with and without cerebral palsy.

Background: In individuals with cerebral palsy, adaptation and plasticity in the neuromuscular system can lead to detrimental changes affecting gait. Cycling may be an effective method to improve mobility. The biomechanics of cycling in adolescents with cerebral palsy have been studied, but further analysis of the frequency and amplitude characteristics of the electromyographic signals can assist with interpretation of the cycling kinematics.

Quality of life in children with spinal cord injury.

Purpose: To compare reports of the child's quality of life (QOL) between children with spinal cord injury (SCI) and their parents using the Pediatric Quality of Life 4.0 Generic Scales (PedsQL), and assess agreement between parent and child responses. To examine the influence of level of injury on QOL and internal consistency reliability of the PedsQL in pediatric SCI.

Co-contraction during passive movements of the knee joint in children with cerebral palsy.

Background: Co-contraction is an impairment commonly reported in children with cerebral palsy. However, co-contraction has not been investigated during passive movements which may be used to assess spasticity in children with cerebral palsy. The purpose of this study was to examine the frequency of co-contraction and the relationship between reflex activity and co-contraction during passive movements of the knee joint in children with cerebral palsy.

Time-frequency changes in electromyographic signals after hamstring lengthening surgery in children with cerebral palsy.

Increased knee flexion during stance is a common gait deviation in the child with cerebral palsy (CP), with distal hamstring lengthening surgeries being an accepted course of treatment. Post-operatively, improvements in gait kinematics have been reported, however little change is noted in the patterns of muscle activity as portrayed by onset and offset timing in the surface electromyographic (sEMG) signals. Similar analysis based on the frequency content of the sEMG signals has seldom been applied, yet may provide additional insight into changes in muscle activity in response to surgery.