Date of Award
Spring 1981
Document Type
Dissertation - Restricted
Degree Name
Doctor of Philosophy (PhD)
Department
Biomedical Engineering
First Advisor
Sances, Anthony
Second Advisor
Jeutter, Dean
Third Advisor
Hemmy, David
Abstract
Current literature reveals that methods for quantifying motor syndromes in Cerebral Palsied children are desirable for improved management of the condition. Four devices ):or quantifying motor dysfunction in children with Cerebral Palsy are discussed. Motor functions quantified by these devices are passive resistance to motion of the forearm and leg, postural balance, and gait. The first device measures forearm resistive forces during passive displacement. The force and displacement values are integrated to calculate work. Thirteen normal children and 45 children with Cerebral Palsy were studied. Fifteen of the Cerebral Palsied children were evaluated before and after cerebellar implant. The post-operative evaluation was conducted 6 to 10 days following surgery with the cerebellar stimulator turned on. These children were not on drug regimens other than those administered pre-operatively, and were not given strong analgesics or tranquilizers during the test periods. A marked decrease in work was observed in this group. Minimal changes in work values were observed in the second group of Cerebral Palsied children evaluated at least 6 months following implant, first with the stimulator off for 48 hours and then on for l hour (30 subjects tested). Mean pre and post stimulation work values for this group were lower than the mean pre-operative work values of the group studied before implant. Comparison of the two groups is questionable though, because the second study was conducted in a less controlled environment in which patients were easily distracted. Many subjects had also traveled long distances; were fatigued; and were generally unable to cooperate and fully relax,. A 2-linkage mechanical model of the forearm is developed to demonstrate that forearm inertia has a negligible effect upon the measured work values...