Measurement of muscle stiffness using robotic assisted gait orthosis in children with cerebral palsy
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Date
2011Type
- Journal Article
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yes
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Abstract
Purpose
To evaluate the feasibility and reliability of a novel stiffness assessment tool implemented in the driven gait orthosis Paediatric Lokomat; to investigate the influence of single robotic-assisted gait training (RAGT) on muscle stiffness in children with cerebral palsy (CP).
Methods
Ten children with spastic CP conducted a single standard RAGT session and stiffness was assessed before and after the RAGT. Nine of the ten subjects were tested twice on the same day to investigate test–retest reliability, intraclass correlation coefficients (ICCs), standard error of measurement (SEM), coefficient of variation of the method error (CVME) and resistive torques during passive leg movements (stiffness in Nm/°) were calculated.
Results
ICCs showed high reliability (0.83–0.97) for hip and knee movements. SEM and CVME indicated 0.028–0.085 Nm/°, 9.5–23.0% of test–retest variability in hip and 0.018–0.064 Nm/°, 13.3–43.5% in knee measures. Using the assessment tool, a significant decrease in muscle stiffness in participants, especially in children with high levels of muscle tone, could be shown after a single session of RAGT.
Conclusions
The assessment tool L-STIFF is a feasible tool for automated measurement of stiffness in children with CP, but it is not sensitive enough to record small changes in muscle tone. © 2010 Informa UK, Ltd. Show more
Publication status
publishedExternal links
Journal / series
Disability and Rehabilitation: Assistive TechnologyVolume
Pages / Article No.
Publisher
InformaSubject
Assistive device; Cerebral palsy; Child; Muscle stiffness; Spasticity; Robotic assisted gait trainingOrganisational unit
03654 - Riener, Robert / Riener, Robert
08758 - Trainingslehre / E. de Bruin
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ETH Bibliography
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