Physical Therapy Commons^™

Neuromuscular Response To A Single Session Of Whole-Body Vibration In Children With Cerebral Palsy: A Pilot Study, Huaqing (Virginia) Liang, Gena Henderson, Jianhua Wu

Physical Therapy Faculty Research

Background Whole-body vibration (WBV) is a relative new intervention paradigm that could reduce spasticity and improve motor function in children with cerebral palsy (CP). We investigated neuromuscular response to a single session of side-alternating WBV with different amplitudes in children with CP.

Methods Ten children with spastic CP aged 7–17 years at GMFCS level I-III participated in this pilot study. Participants received two sessions of side-alternating WBV with the same frequency (20 Hz) but different amplitudes (low-amplitude: 1 mm and high-amplitude: 2 mm). Each session included six sets of 90 s of WBV and 90 s of rest. Before and …

Walking Pattern In Children With And Without Down Syndrome Via A Force-Driven Harmonic Oscillator Model, Jianhua Wu, Matthew Beerse, Toyin Ajisafe, Huaqing Liang

Physical Therapy Faculty Research

Children with Down syndrome (DS) display poorer kinematic and kinetic patterns of walking than typically developing ( TD) children. However, little is known on neuromuscular control in children with DS during locomotion. A force driven harmonic oscillator (FDHO) model sheds light on general muscular activation with respect to the gravitational load of the thigh-shank-foot system. The K/G ratio derived from this model represents a scaling between the elastic restoring torque from muscles and soft tissues and the gravitational torque from the weight of the leg during walking. The K/G ratio has shown different muscular function in infant walkers and children …