Evaluation of Assistive Devices for Better Prescription in Children with Cerebral Palsy and Myelomeningocele

Objective:
Impaired balance reactions, postural instability, abnormal muscle tone, and diminished motor control are characteristics seen in children with cerebral palsy and myelomeningocele. These factors can seriously limit gait, requiring these children to use assistive devices, such as walkers and crutches, which afford improved balance and walking. There is a compelling need for assessment of upper-body dynamics in these children if we are to improve their functional abilities. Locomotion studies must be conducted in order to determine whether walkers or crutches are most effective for a given patient. This project is designed to evaluate assistive devices (walkers, crutches) for better prescription in 40 children with cerebral palsy and myelomeningocele.

Materials and Methods:
Forty (40) children will be evaluated, including an assessment by clinical staff and bioengineering team. The tools used for the evaluations will include: 1) quantitative motion analysis in the gait laboratory, 2) evaluation with new, state-of-the art force-measuring assistive device, and 3) physical examination and standardized functional assessment/satisfaction questionnaires/interviews: the Pediatric Outcomes Data Collection Instrument (PODCI), the Canadian Occupational Performance Measure (COPM), and the Pediatric Evaluation of Disability Inventory (PEDI). Data will be collected over an 18-month period and a statistician will analyze.