Validation of a New Device to Measure Muscle Stiffness and Spasticity in Children Aged 7 to 18 With Cerebral Palsy

What this Trial Is About

Researchers are studying children with cerebral palsy CP, a group of movement and posture disorders caused by brain damage during fetal development or the first year of life. This research evaluates a new method using dynamometers to measure passive stiffness and spasticity in joints, aiming to improve the accuracy and reliability of these assessments compared to traditional clinical exams, which can be subjective and vary by examiner. The study uses a handheld dynamometer to perform passive stretch tests on the main lower limb joints of both children with CP and healthy children aged 7 to 18 years. Two evaluators conduct repeated measurements to assess the consistency and reliability of this new protocol. The study includes children classified within levels I to III of the Global Motor Function Classification System and requires their ability to follow simple instructions. Participants will undergo repeated passive joint assessments by two different evaluators to measure intra- and inter-rater reliability. Researchers will collect data on passive stiffness, model deviation, electromyography activity, and joint kinematics over a two-year period. The study monitors participants responses to these assessments while ensuring voluntary participation and parental consent, with a total involvement lasting up to two years.

Protocol Validation of Dynamometric Measurement of Passive Inter-segmental Stiffness and Spasticity in Children With Cerebral Palsy