Background & Need
Background
Cerebral Palsy is a class of permanent muscle and movement disorders caused by lesions in the developing brain. This ailment, a type of static encephalopathy, is the number one cause of physical disability, affecting 2 to 2.5 children per 1000 births. Though the location of the brain lesion causing CP can alter the types of symptoms experienced, common CP patients experience: scoliosis, stunted growth, lack of balance, and impaired peripheral movement. It has been found that rehabilitation can both increase muscle strength and improve motor activity without negative effects.
Need
Patients with Cerebral Palsy have been found to have severe gait impairments. The knee joint is responsible for both the shock absorption of the stance phase, as well as the foot clearance of the swing phase during normal gait. By improving the motion of the knee in patients with Cerebral Palsy, motor control and gait will improve6,7. Because of the findings disproving the negative relationship between increased muscular strength and spasticity, rehabilitation and strength training have become an increasingly more important aspect in Cerebral Palsy treatment. However, due to lack of patient motivation to perform the exercises at home, the necessary repetitions to improve motor control are not being done. Thus there is a need for a device that transforms rehabilitation exercises into cheap, safe, engaging and interactive tasks. Furthermore, there is a need for a device that brings a therapist’s expertise and diagnostic ability to the home of the patient. A remote treatment package removes the geographic and financial barriers that prevent Cerebral Palsy patients from getting the treatment they need. Also, since 97% of all American adolescents, age 12-17, play video games, the integration of at-home rehabilitation and gaming provides a powerful tool to improve patient quality of life8.
Cerebral Palsy is a class of permanent muscle and movement disorders caused by lesions in the developing brain. This ailment, a type of static encephalopathy, is the number one cause of physical disability, affecting 2 to 2.5 children per 1000 births. Though the location of the brain lesion causing CP can alter the types of symptoms experienced, common CP patients experience: scoliosis, stunted growth, lack of balance, and impaired peripheral movement. It has been found that rehabilitation can both increase muscle strength and improve motor activity without negative effects.
Need
Patients with Cerebral Palsy have been found to have severe gait impairments. The knee joint is responsible for both the shock absorption of the stance phase, as well as the foot clearance of the swing phase during normal gait. By improving the motion of the knee in patients with Cerebral Palsy, motor control and gait will improve6,7. Because of the findings disproving the negative relationship between increased muscular strength and spasticity, rehabilitation and strength training have become an increasingly more important aspect in Cerebral Palsy treatment. However, due to lack of patient motivation to perform the exercises at home, the necessary repetitions to improve motor control are not being done. Thus there is a need for a device that transforms rehabilitation exercises into cheap, safe, engaging and interactive tasks. Furthermore, there is a need for a device that brings a therapist’s expertise and diagnostic ability to the home of the patient. A remote treatment package removes the geographic and financial barriers that prevent Cerebral Palsy patients from getting the treatment they need. Also, since 97% of all American adolescents, age 12-17, play video games, the integration of at-home rehabilitation and gaming provides a powerful tool to improve patient quality of life8.