Project Description:
The overall goal of this research is to understand the mechanisms underlying the development of postural control in sitting using new methodology, in order to provide a scientific basis for evaluation and treatment of posture and movement disorders in infants with cerebral palsy. The development of early posture control remains poorly understood despite considerable therapeutic effort. Infants with cerebral palsy show their first delays in the acquisition of sitting, with subsequent problems developing adequate posture and movement control. Identifying the delay, determining the nature of the problem, and evaluating the effectiveness of treatment quickly, are vital in the early part of an infant’s life, since this is the time of greatest plasticity. Tools from nonlinear dynamics, which are increasingly being used to examine other biological rhythms, will be used in this study to analyze postural sway from center of pressure data during the development of sitting postural control. Specifically, we will examine movement dimensionality (Correlation Dimension), complexity (Approximate Entropy) and stability of the neuromuscular control system (Lyapunov Exponent). Three experiments will be used to accomplish the goals of this project: Experiment 1 determines the reliability of the nonlinear tools, including intra-session and inter-session reliability, in both typically developing infants and infants with cerebral palsy; experiment 2 investigates if the improvement of postural control of typically developing infants between ages five and eight months affects nonlinear measures during sitting; and, experiment 3 investigates how a physical therapy intervention for infants with cerebral palsy affect nonlinear tools during sitting. We hypothesize that nonlinear tools will be reliable and sensitive enough to quantify the evolution of normal postural control over time in both typically developing infants and infants with cerebral palsy. We also hypothesize that infants with cerebral palsy will initially be different from their typically developing counterparts, however, these differences will change to better approximate the typically developing infants as treatment is provided. Taken together, these experiments will further our understanding of the development of early postural control and provide better methods for evaluating treatment aimed at improving postural control in infants with cerebral palsy. This information will lay the groundwork for future studies into the efficacy of treatment for infants and children with cerebral palsy. The results of the present work will be disseminated at national research and clinical meetings, scientific publications in peer-reviewed journals, newsletters and our website.
Target Audience:
Students/Trainees (long or intermediate trainees), Professionals and Para-Professionals, Family Members/Caregivers
