May 21, 2009Robotic devices help children with cerebral palsy improve movements
Robotic devices originally developed to help stroke victims learn to control their arms and legs are now being successfully tested to help children with cerebral palsy. Research has shown that the devices help children with cerebral palsy to reduce impairments in movement and improve the smoothness and speed with which their can reach for objects.Cerebral palsy a condition caused by damage to the part of the brain that regulates muscle tone and keep parts of the body in certain position. This damage to the brain can occur in the womb, several months after delivery or because of a birth injury that occurs during the delivery process.
Researchers using the robotic devices say that the new technology helps to rebuild neural connections in the brain that are damaged. Patients grasp a handle on the robot and use it to guide a robotic arm towards target on a computer monitor, similar to a video game. If the child moves in the wrong direction, the robot gently moves his or her arm back on the right path.
Although originally developed for stroke victims, researchers expect that the robotic devices currently being tested will prove effective in children with cerebral palsy because their brains are still developing, and thus more plastic than those of adults or the elderly.
In addition to cerebral palsy and strokes, the robotic devices have also been tested on patients with multiple sclerosis, Parkinson’s disease and spinal cord injuries.