Morteza Pourazar; Fazlolah Bagherzadeh; Davoud Houmanian
Abstract
Defects such as spasm, concurrent muscle activity, muscle weakness, and range of motion affect the fine and fine motor function of children with cerebral palsy and lead to movement limitations. Despite the potential of using virtual reality in the rehabilitation of children with cerebral palsy, few studies ...
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Defects such as spasm, concurrent muscle activity, muscle weakness, and range of motion affect the fine and fine motor function of children with cerebral palsy and lead to movement limitations. Despite the potential of using virtual reality in the rehabilitation of children with cerebral palsy, few studies have been conducted in this area.The purpose of the present study was to examine the effects of movement practices in virtual reality environment on range of motion in cerebral palsy children. Twenty children 7-12 years old with cerebral palsy were selected by a convenience sampling method. Participants were homogeneously placed in experimental and control groups based on the average scores. The experimental group performed bowling practice in virtual environment for 3 weeks, but the control group continued their traditional therapy program. Xbox device and universal goniometer were used as instruments. Multivariate analysis of covariance (MANCOVA) and Analyze of Covariance (ANCOVA) were used at p < 0.05 level. Based on MACNOVA test results, there was a significant difference between experimental and control groups at least in one dependent variable (shoulder, elbow, & wrist range of motion) (F = 96/43, p= 0/001). Based on the results of ANCOVA test, experimental group achieved higher averages in shoulder, elbow and wrist range of motion than control group. Virtual reality technology can be used as a treatment approach for improving upper extremity range of motion in children with hemiplegic cerebral Palsy.
Amir Dana; Saleh Rafiee
Abstract
Reaching and grasping is one of the most basic fundamental skills. The aim of this study was to address the differences of movement variability and movement smoothness in reaching and grasping in children and adults. 60 children (age range: 8-13 years old) were divided into 6 groups. The task used in ...
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Reaching and grasping is one of the most basic fundamental skills. The aim of this study was to address the differences of movement variability and movement smoothness in reaching and grasping in children and adults. 60 children (age range: 8-13 years old) were divided into 6 groups. The task used in the study included reaching and grasping a cube with the dimension of 3.6 cm
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which provided the palmar grasp for all children. Subjects had to grasp the cube with their dominant hands and brought it near their mouth. In addition, a group of adults participated in this study (age range: 24+1.2). Participants performed 10 trials and kinematic variables including mean squared jerk, dimensionless jerk, range of motion of elbow joint, and variability in coordination pattern were calculated. One-way ANOVA was used to analyze the data in each variable. The results showed that the 13-year-old group was significantly different than adult group in the mean squared jerk and dimensionless jerk. It was observed that 8- and 9-year-old groups had significant differences with other groups in range of motion of elbow joint and variability in coordination pattern; however, there was no differences among other groups. Overall, the results showed that the growth process of reaching and grasping is not limited to the early childhood. These results were interpreted according to the development of motor control and asynchronous acquisition of kinematic variables in the process of movement skill learning.
