The goal of this interventional study is to learn about the biomechanical factors underlying the beneficial changes in children with cerebral palsy after using individually-adapted stand-on ride-on power mobility devices (PMD). The main questions we aim to answer are: * How does the use of stand-on PMDs affect static balance in children with cerebral palsy? * How does the use of stand-on PMDs affect dynamic balance and mobility function in children with cerebral palsy? Children ages 4-6 years old with cerebral palsy (GMFCS levels II and III) will: * Use individually-adapted stand-on PMDs for three months. * Undergo tests to measure static balance, dynamic balance, and mobility function before and after the intervention. * Receive a full biomechanical assessment (kinematics, kinetics, muscle activity, gait spatiotemporal characteristics). Researchers will compare pre-intervention and post-intervention measurements to quantify improvements in balance, muscle activation, and mobility.
Study Type
INTERVENTIONAL
Allocation
NA
Purpose
TREATMENT
Masking
NONE
Enrollment
10
Children will receive the adapted toy car (individually-adapted stand-on PMD) to take home and use for three months. PMD will be used at their house and familiar environments to the family (e.g., neighborhood, parks, schools).
University of North Florida
Jacksonville, Florida, United States
Center of Pressure Sway Area, Standing
Center of pressure sway area during quiet standing was quantified as the 95% confidence ellipse area derived from force plate measurements. Larger sway area values indicate greater postural sway and reduced standing balance stability. Reported values represent the absolute measurements obtained during each of the pre-intervention and post-intervention assessments. For participants completing multiple standing trials at an assessment, the participant-level median across trials was used for analysis. The reported values represent the group median of the participant-level medians for the pre-intervention and post-intervention assessments.
Time frame: Pre (immediately before intervention), Post (3 months post Pre)
Center of Pressure Sway Area, Sit-to-stand
Measure of dynamic balance control during sit-to-stand. Center of pressure sway area during quiet standing was quantified as the 95% confidence ellipse area derived from force plate measurements. Larger ellipse areas indicate greater postural sway. Reported values represent the absolute measurements obtained during each of the pre-intervention and post-intervention assessments. For participants completing multiple standing trials at an assessment, the participant-level median across trials was used for analysis. The reported values represent the group median of the participant-level medians for the pre-intervention and post-intervention assessments.
Time frame: Pre (immediately before intervention), Post (3 months post Pre)
Trunk-pelvis Coupling
Quantification of timing and magnitude of whole-body motor control coordination during functional tasks (e.g., sit-to-stand, walking turns). Trunk-pelvis coupling was quantified using vector coding analysis to characterize coordination between trunk and pelvis motion during the movement task. Reported values represent the absolute measurements obtained during each of the pre-intervention and post-intervention assessments. For participants completing multiple trials at an assessment, the participant-level median across trials was used for analysis. The reported values represent the group median of the participant-level medians for the pre-intervention and post-intervention assessments.
Time frame: Baseline, Pre (3 months post Baseline), Post (3 months post Pre)
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