This project will develop the first sensor-based mobile Pelvic Assist Device (mPAD) that can deliver precise, adaptable, pelvic control to restore natural coordination of upper- and lower-limb movements during gait in children with Cerebral Palsy
Gait impairments hinder mobility for more than 760,000 children and adults living with cerebral palsy (CP) in the US. Motor relearning is possible for these individual but typically requires numerous training sessions with a team of physical therapists and assistants to restore coupling between upper- and lower-body segments while assisting spastic uncoordinated limb movement to improve gait kinematics. This clinical trial will meet the overall objective of testing the feasibility of developing a smart-robotic exoskeleton that is effective at providing guided pelvic assistance and support while biofeedback mediated training is facilitated under the supervision of a physiotherapist. The project will test a novel tethered Pelvic Assist Device (TPAD) with integratable electromyographic (EMG) and inertial (IMU) biofeedback that is uniquely capable of delivering precise, adaptable, multi-degree-of-freedom pelvic control to promote natural intersegmental coupling, restore coordination of upper- and lower-limb movement, and improve normal gait kinematics in children with CP. Because of its proximity to the center of mass and critical role in coordinating upper- and lower-limb control, the pelvis provides an ideal access point for physiotherapists to manually improve gait. The investigators will test the hypothesis that accurate sensor-based metrics of gait can be derived from EMG and IMU wearable sensors to develop a biofeedback system for motor learning that are integratable with TPAD to develop a new mobile mPAD device that is compliant with the target population.
Study Type
INTERVENTIONAL
Allocation
NON_RANDOMIZED
Purpose
OTHER
Masking
NONE
Enrollment
10
Gait retraining device that applies pelvic forces and measures response
Gait with no pelvic assistance
Altec Inc.
Natick, Massachusetts, United States
CUMC Harkness Pavillion
New York, New York, United States
Gait Metric Accuracy
Measures the accuracy of identifying heel strike and toe off timing in % error when comparing measures from wearable sensors vs. motion capture
Time frame: 1 day
Pelvis Range of Motion During Walking
Difference (in degrees) between pelvis range of motion during walking as detected by wearable sensors and motion capture
Time frame: 1 day
Muscle Activation During Walking
Measures electromyographic (EMG) signals of trunk and lower limb muscles during gait which are necessary for designing and implementing a mobile pelvic assist device (mPAD) system with biofeedback
Time frame: 1 day
Rating of Perceived Difficulty
Structured interviews will be used to grade the perception of difficulty in using the technology
Time frame: 1 day
Trunk Range of Motion During Walking
Difference (in degrees) between trunk range of motion during walking as detected by wearable sensors and motion capture
Time frame: 1 day
Hip Range of Motion During Walking
Difference (in degrees) between hip range of motion during walking as detected by wearable sensors and motion capture
Time frame: 1 day
Knee Range of Motion During Walking
Difference (in degrees) between knee range of motion during walking as detected by wearable sensors and motion capture
Time frame: 1 day
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