RESUMO
PURPOSE: To evaluate the performance improvement of individuals with hemiparesis cerebral palsy (CP) using a virtual task. PARTICIPANTS AND METHODS: Twenty individuals were selected and distributed into two groups. The experimental group (CP group) comprised ten individuals with a medical diagnosis of CP, and ten individuals with typical development (sex- and age-matched) composed the control group (TD group). Both groups followed the same intervention protocol, which included a virtual coincident timing task: the participants performed upper limb movements in front of a computer's webcam and interacted with the task with the aim of virtually intercepting spheres that fell in four rows following the rhythm of a pre-selected song during an 8-minute period. To verify the influence on a real task, pre- and posttests were performed in a similar task, but with physical contact (using the spacebar on the keyboard of a computer). To analyze the data, we evaluated the variable, constant, and absolute errors during the task and in the pre- and posttests. RESULTS: The results showed that there was an improvement in performance between the pre- and posttests; that is, after practicing the task in an environment without physical contact, there was a performance improvement in posttests in the real task, but only for the CP group. Moreover, there were significant differences in precision and accuracy between the two groups, with worse performance in the CP group. CONCLUSION: Individuals with CP presented better performance in the real task after practice in a virtual reality task, albeit with worse performance compared with individuals with TD. This is an interesting result that supports the possible use of virtual tasks for the rehabilitation of individuals with CP.
RESUMO
BACKGROUND: A slip occurs when the required friction (RCOF) to prevent slipping at the foot/floor interfaces exceeds the available friction. The RCOF is dependent upon the biomechanics features of individuals and their gait. On the other hand, the available friction depends on environmental features. Once individuals with crouch gait have their biomechanics of gait completely altered, how do they interact with a supporting surface? The aim was to quantify the RCOF in children with bilateral spastic cerebral palsy (BSCP) and crouch gait. METHODS: 11 children with crouch gait and 11 healthy age-matched children were instructed to walk barefoot at self-selected speed over a force platform. The RCOF curve was obtained as the ratio between the tangential forces (FT), and the vertical ground reaction force (FZ). Three points were extracted by the RCOF, FT and FZ curves at the loading response, midstance and push-off phases. FINDINGS: Children with BSCP presented higher values of RCOF in all support phase and lower gait velocity relative to the healthy controls. For BSCP group no correlation between FT and FZ were found, indicating that this group is not able to negotiate the forces during the support phase. INTERPRETATION: Children with BSCP and crouch gait are not able to negotiate the forces applied on the ground in support phase, so to avoid the fall, their strategy is to reduce the gait velocity.
Assuntos
Acidentes por Quedas/prevenção & controle , Paralisia Cerebral/fisiopatologia , Transtornos Neurológicos da Marcha/fisiopatologia , Fenômenos Biomecânicos , Criança , Pé/fisiologia , Fricção , Análise da Marcha , HumanosRESUMO
OBJECTIVE: The purpose of this study was to compare postural control in typically developing (TD) children and children with cerebral palsy (CP) during the sit-to-stand (STS) movement and to assess the relationship between static (during static standing position) and dynamic postural control (during STS movement) in both groups. METHOD: The center of pressure (CoP) behavior of 23 TD children and 6 children with spastic hemiplegic CP (Gross Motor Function Classification System [GMFCS] I and II) was assessed during STS movement performance and during static standing conditions with the use of a force plate. The data obtained from the force plate were used to calculate CoP variables: anteroposterior (AP) and mediolateral (ML) amplitudes of CoP displacement and the area and velocity of CoP oscillation. RESULTS: According to the Mann-Whitney test, children with CP exhibited higher CoP values in all of the analyzed variables during the beginning of STS movement. Pearson's correlation verified a positive correlation between the CoP variables during both static conditions and the performance of STS movement. CONCLUSIONS: Children with spastic hemiplegic CP present major postural oscillations during the beginning of STS movement compared with typical children. Moreover, the observed relationship between postural control in static and dynamic conditions reveals the importance of body control in the static position for the performance of functional activities that put the body in motion, such as STS movement. .
Assuntos
Humanos , Pré-Escolar , Criança , Postura , Paralisia Cerebral/fisiopatologia , Equilíbrio Postural , MovimentoRESUMO
Parálisis cerebral es un término que define una serie de trastornos motores de origen cerebral, no progresivos que constituyen la causa más frecuente de discapacidad motora en la infancia. No obstante ser una denominación antigua, no ha perdido vigencia ni valor si se le utiliza como término sindromático que supone un estudio etiológico acucioso y una conducta terapéutica que incluye múltiples áreas de intervención y de especialistas coordinados a fin de lograr la máxima funcionalidad posible del niño desde el punto de vista motor, intelectual, de comunicación y la máxima integración social, teniendo en cuenta que el grado de desarrollo de una sociedad se mide por el cuidado que otorga a sus minusválidos.
Cerebral palsy (CP) results from a static brain lesion during pregnancy or early life and remains the most common cause of physical disability in children. Despite being an "old" name, it has not lost its usefulness if used as syndromic term that implies a thorough etiologic study and a therapeutic approach that includes multiple areas of intervention and coordinated work of specialists in order to achieve the maximum possible functionality, optimizing motor, intellectual, communication and social integration, considering that the degree of development of a society is measured by the care given to its disabled people.