Poster 2: Joint and Clinical Studies
Improvements In Somatosensation And Dynamic Balance During Postural Transitions With The Use Of Stochastic Resonance Stimulation In An Individual With Cerebral Palsy – A Case Study
Khushboo Verma, Ashwini Sansare, Eman Alsaqabi, Hendrik Reimann, Samuel C.K. Lee
University of Delaware
People with Cerebral Palsy (CP), a group of disorders affecting balance, have a high risk of falls, leading to serious injuries. Falls can occur either due to inability to sense how the body moves through space or failure to generate an appropriate motor response. Multiple interventions focus on improving motor responses, however, sensory processing rehabilitation approaches that may enhance proprioception are currently underexplored. Stochastic Resonance (SR) stimulation is a promising method to overcome sensory information deficits. The overall hypothesis of this proposed research is that SR stimulation may enhance sensory detection and processing to improve balance control in people with CP.
One individual with CP and one typical developing peer (TD) performed somatosensation tests, sit-to-stand and gait initiation while SR stimulation was applied. SR improved vibration and joint position sense for the individual with CP, whereas the TD participant showed slightly better performance in vibration and worse performance in joint position sense. SR stimulation reduced the total time and anteroposterior center-of-pressure excursions during balance activities in CP while TD showed little change indicating better locomotor planning and balance control.
Knowledge gained from this study will give greater insights into the balance control strategies and provide a new sensory-centric rehabilitation approach.
Research Area: Rehabilitation & Treatment