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Tomita H, Takahashi S, Kawaguchi D, Aoki Y, Yamamoto Y, Asai H. How Does Standing Anteroposterior Stability Limits Correlate to Foot/ankle Functions in Bilateral Spastic Cerebral Palsy? Pediatr Phys Ther 2024; 36:507-516. [PMID: 38995638 DOI: 10.1097/pep.0000000000001128] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 07/13/2024]
Abstract
PURPOSE To determine whether foot and ankle functions are correlated with the limits of stability (LoS) while standing in individuals with bilateral spastic cerebral palsy (BSCP). METHODS Eighteen people who could walk and with BSCP and 18 people without disability participated. Anteroposterior LoS was measured using a force platform. To quantify ankle and foot functions, spasticity, isometric muscle strength, passive range of motion, and plantar light touch-pressure sensation were assessed. RESULTS In the BSCP group, anteroposterior LoS was significantly decreased, and anterior LoS reduction was correlated with decreases in plantar flexor and toe flexor strength and in sensitivity of the forefoot to light touch-pressure sensation, whereas the posterior LoS reduction was correlated with reduced dorsiflexor strength. CONCLUSIONS The present findings suggest that improvement in these foot and ankle functions in BSCP may increase LoS while standing.
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Affiliation(s)
- Hidehito Tomita
- Department of Rehabilitation, Graduate School of Health Sciences, Toyohashi SOZO University, Toyohashi, Aichi, Japan (Dr Tomita); Department of Rehabilitation, Aichi Prefectural Mikawa Aoitori Medical and Rehabilitation Center for Developmental Disabilities, Okazaki, Aichi, Japan (Messrs Takahashi and Kawaguchi, and Ms Aoki, and Mr Yamamoto); Department of Physical Therapy, Graduate Course of Rehabilitation Science, Kanazawa University, Kanazawa, Ishikawa, Japan (Dr Asai)
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Sudati IP, Damiano D, Rovai G, de Campos AC. Neural Correlates of Mobility in Children with Cerebral Palsy: A Systematic Review. INTERNATIONAL JOURNAL OF ENVIRONMENTAL RESEARCH AND PUBLIC HEALTH 2024; 21:1039. [PMID: 39200649 PMCID: PMC11354175 DOI: 10.3390/ijerph21081039] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/11/2024] [Revised: 07/23/2024] [Accepted: 07/31/2024] [Indexed: 09/02/2024]
Abstract
Recent advances in brain mapping tools have enabled the study of brain activity during functional tasks, revealing neuroplasticity after early brain injuries and resulting from rehabilitation. Understanding the neural correlates of mobility limitations is crucial for treating individuals with cerebral palsy (CP). The aim is to summarize the neural correlates of mobility in children with CP and to describe the brain mapping methods that have been utilized in the existing literature. This systematic review was conducted based on PRISMA guidelines and was registered on PROSPERO (n° CRD42021240296). The literature search was conducted in the PubMed and Embase databases. Observational studies involving participants with CP, with a mean age of up to 18 years, that utilized brain mapping techniques and correlated these with mobility outcomes were included. The results were analyzed in terms of sample characteristics, brain mapping methods, mobility measures, and main results. The risk of bias was evaluated using a checklist previously created by our research group, based on STROBE guidelines, the Cochrane Handbook, and the Critical Appraisal Skills Programme (CASP). A total of 15 studies comprising 313 children with CP and 229 with typical development using both static and mobile techniques met the inclusion criteria. The studies indicate that children"with'CP have increased cerebral activity and higher variability in brain reorganization during mobility activities, such as gait, quiet standing, cycling, and gross motor tasks when compared with children with typical development. Altered brain activity and reorganization underline the importance of conducting more studies to investigate the neural correlates during mobility activities in children with CP. Such information could guide neurorehabilitation strategies targeting brain neuroplasticity for functional gains.
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Affiliation(s)
- Isabella Pessóta Sudati
- Department of Physical Therapy, Child Development Analysis Laboratory (LADI), Federal University of São Carlos (UFSCar), São Carlos 13565-905, SP, Brazil;
| | - Diane Damiano
- Rehabilitation Medicine Department, Clinical Center, National Institutes of Health (NIH), Bethesda, MD 20892, USA;
| | - Gabriela Rovai
- Department of Physical Therapy, Child Development Analysis Laboratory (LADI), Federal University of São Carlos (UFSCar), São Carlos 13565-905, SP, Brazil;
| | - Ana Carolina de Campos
- Department of Physical Therapy, Child Development Analysis Laboratory (LADI), Federal University of São Carlos (UFSCar), São Carlos 13565-905, SP, Brazil;
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Kurz MJ, Busboom MT. Contributions of the sensory system to motor learning : Focus on Cerebral Palsy. Pediatr Res 2024:10.1038/s41390-024-03421-y. [PMID: 39068271 DOI: 10.1038/s41390-024-03421-y] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/11/2024] [Accepted: 06/25/2024] [Indexed: 07/30/2024]
Affiliation(s)
- Max J Kurz
- Institute for Human Neuroscience, Boys Town National Research Hospital, Omaha, NE, USA.
- Department of Pharmacology and Neuroscience, College of Medicine, Creighton University, Omaha, NE, USA.
| | - Morgan T Busboom
- Institute for Human Neuroscience, Boys Town National Research Hospital, Omaha, NE, USA
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Hinton EH, Busboom MT, Embury CM, Spooner RK, Wilson TW, Kurz MJ. Adults with cerebral palsy exhibit uncharacteristic cortical oscillations during an adaptive sensorimotor control task. Sci Rep 2024; 14:10788. [PMID: 38734783 PMCID: PMC11088662 DOI: 10.1038/s41598-024-61375-x] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/14/2023] [Accepted: 05/06/2024] [Indexed: 05/13/2024] Open
Abstract
Prior research has shown that the sensorimotor cortical oscillations are uncharacteristic in persons with cerebral palsy (CP); however, it is unknown if these altered cortical oscillations have an impact on adaptive sensorimotor control. This investigation evaluated the cortical dynamics when the motor action needs to be changed "on-the-fly". Adults with CP and neurotypical controls completed a sensorimotor task that required either proactive or reactive control while undergoing magnetoencephalography (MEG). When compared with the controls, the adults with CP had a weaker beta (18-24 Hz) event-related desynchronization (ERD), post-movement beta rebound (PMBR, 16-20 Hz) and theta (4-6 Hz) event-related synchronization (ERS) in the sensorimotor cortices. In agreement with normative work, the controls exhibited differences in the strength of the sensorimotor gamma (66-84 Hz) ERS during proactive compared to reactive trials, but similar condition-wise changes were not seen in adults with CP. Lastly, the adults with CP who had a stronger theta ERS tended to have better hand dexterity, as indicated by the Box and Blocks Test and Purdue Pegboard Test. These results may suggest that alterations in the theta and gamma cortical oscillations play a role in the altered hand dexterity and uncharacteristic adaptive sensorimotor control noted in adults with CP.
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Affiliation(s)
- Erica H Hinton
- Institute for Human Neuroscience, Boys Town National Research Hospital, Omaha, NE, USA
- Center for Pediatric Brain Health, Boys Town National Research Hospital, Boys Town, NE, USA
| | - Morgan T Busboom
- Institute for Human Neuroscience, Boys Town National Research Hospital, Omaha, NE, USA
- Center for Pediatric Brain Health, Boys Town National Research Hospital, Boys Town, NE, USA
| | - Christine M Embury
- Institute for Human Neuroscience, Boys Town National Research Hospital, Omaha, NE, USA
- Center for Pediatric Brain Health, Boys Town National Research Hospital, Boys Town, NE, USA
| | - Rachel K Spooner
- Institute for Human Neuroscience, Boys Town National Research Hospital, Omaha, NE, USA
- Center for Pediatric Brain Health, Boys Town National Research Hospital, Boys Town, NE, USA
| | - Tony W Wilson
- Institute for Human Neuroscience, Boys Town National Research Hospital, Omaha, NE, USA
- Center for Pediatric Brain Health, Boys Town National Research Hospital, Boys Town, NE, USA
- Department of Pharmacology and Neuroscience, Creighton University, Omaha, NE, USA
| | - Max J Kurz
- Institute for Human Neuroscience, Boys Town National Research Hospital, Omaha, NE, USA.
- Center for Pediatric Brain Health, Boys Town National Research Hospital, Boys Town, NE, USA.
- Department of Pharmacology and Neuroscience, Creighton University, Omaha, NE, USA.
- Institute for Human Neuroscience, Boys Town National Research Hospital, 14090 Mother Teresa Lane, Boys Town, NE, 68010, USA.
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Sansare A, Arcodia M, Lee SCK, Jeka J, Reimann H. Immediate application of low-intensity electrical noise reduced responses to visual perturbations during walking in individuals with cerebral palsy. J Neuroeng Rehabil 2024; 21:14. [PMID: 38281953 PMCID: PMC10822182 DOI: 10.1186/s12984-023-01299-1] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/16/2023] [Accepted: 12/19/2023] [Indexed: 01/30/2024] Open
Affiliation(s)
- Ashwini Sansare
- Department of Physical Therapy, University of Delaware, Newark, DE, USA
| | - Maelyn Arcodia
- Department of Kinesiology and Applied Physiology, University of Delaware, Newark, DE, USA
| | - Samuel C K Lee
- Department of Physical Therapy, University of Delaware, Newark, DE, USA
| | - John Jeka
- Department of Kinesiology and Applied Physiology, University of Delaware, Newark, DE, USA
| | - Hendrik Reimann
- Department of Kinesiology and Applied Physiology, University of Delaware, Newark, DE, USA.
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Ma T, Xu X, Li M, Li Y, Wang Y, Li Q, Xue X, Tao W, Hua Y. Cortical Activation During Single-Legged Stance in Patients With Chronic Ankle Instability. J Athl Train 2023; 58:927-933. [PMID: 36827609 PMCID: PMC10784888 DOI: 10.4085/1062-6050-0363.22] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 02/26/2023]
Abstract
CONTEXT Chronic ankle instability (CAI) has been considered a neurophysiological condition, with dysfunctional somatosensory and motor system excitability. However, few researchers have explored the changes in cortical activation during balance tasks of patients with CAI. OBJECTIVE To compare the cortical activity during single-legged stance among CAI, copers, and uninjured control participants and to compare dynamic balance across groups. DESIGN Cross-sectional study. SETTING Biomechanics laboratory. PATIENTS OR OTHER PARTICIPANTS A total of 22 participants with CAI (median [interquartile range]; age = 34.5 [11.0] years, height = 170.0 [15.8] cm, mass = 67.0 [16.2] kg), 17 copers (age = 27.0 [14.0] years, height = 170.0 [9.5] cm, mass = 66.5 [16.5] kg), and 21 uninjured control participants (age = 25.0 [10.5] years, height = 170.0 [11.0] cm, mass = 64.0 [16.5] kg). MAIN OUTCOME MEASURE(S) Participants performed single-legged stance while cortical activation was tested with functional near-infrared spectroscopy. The peak oxyhemoglobin response of the activated cortex was calculated and compared across groups. The Y-Balance test outcomes and patient-reported outcomes were assessed and compared across groups. RESULTS The CAI group had worse Y-balance test and patient-reported outcomes than the coper and uninjured control groups. Differences in the peak oxyhemoglobin response were observed for the primary somatosensory cortex (S1; F2,57 = 4.347, P = .017, ηp2 = 0.132) and superior temporal gyrus (STG; F2,57 = 4.548, P = .015, ηp2 = 0.138). Specifically, copers demonstrated greater activation in S1 and STG than the CAI (d = 0.73, P = .034, and d = 0.69, P = .043, respectively) and uninjured control (d = 0.77, P = .036, and d = 0.88, P = .022, respectively) groups. No differences were found in the cortical activation between CAI and uninjured control participants. CONCLUSIONS Copers displayed greater cortical activation in S1 and STG than CAI and uninjured control participants. Greater activation in S1 and STG suggested a better ability to perceive somatosensory stimuli and may represent a compensatory mechanism that allows copers to maintain good functional ability after the initial severe ankle sprain.
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Affiliation(s)
- Tengjia Ma
- Department of Joint and Sports Medicine, The Second Hospital of Dalian Medical University, Liaoning, China
| | - Xiaoyun Xu
- School of Kinesiology, Shanghai University of Sport, China
| | - Moxin Li
- Department of Sports Medicine, Huashan Hospital, Fudan University, Shanghai, China
| | - Yunxia Li
- Department of Sports Medicine, Huashan Hospital, Fudan University, Shanghai, China
| | - Yiran Wang
- Department of Sports Medicine, Huashan Hospital, Fudan University, Shanghai, China
| | - Qianru Li
- Department of Sports Medicine, Huashan Hospital, Fudan University, Shanghai, China
| | - Xiao’ao Xue
- Department of Sports Medicine, Huashan Hospital, Fudan University, Shanghai, China
| | - Weichu Tao
- School of Kinesiology, Shanghai University of Sport, China
| | - Yinghui Hua
- Department of Sports Medicine, Huashan Hospital, Fudan University, Shanghai, China
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Trevarrow MP, Dukkipati SS, Baker SE, Wilson TW, Kurz MJ. Reduced brainstem volume is associated with mobility impairments in youth with cerebral palsy. J Clin Neurosci 2023; 117:114-119. [PMID: 37801875 PMCID: PMC10841759 DOI: 10.1016/j.jocn.2023.09.025] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/13/2023] [Revised: 08/09/2023] [Accepted: 09/28/2023] [Indexed: 10/08/2023]
Abstract
BACKGROUND Persons with cerebral palsy (CP) have impaired mobility that has been attributed to changes in structure and function within the nervous system. The brainstem is a region that plays a critical role in mobility by connecting the cortex and cerebellum to the spinal cord, yet this region has been largely unstudied in persons with CP. RESEARCH QUESTION We used high-resolution structural MRI and biomechanical analyses to examine whether the volume of the whole brainstem and its constituent elements are altered in CP and if these alterations relate to the mobility impairments within this population. METHODS A cohort study was conducted to assess the volume of the whole brainstem, pons, midbrain, medulla, and superior cerebellar peduncle in a cohort of persons with CP (N = 26; Age = 16.3 ± 1.0 years; GMFCS levels I-IV, Females = 12) and a cohort of neurotypical (NT) controls (N = 38; Age = 14.3 ± 0.4 years, Females = 14) using structural MR imaging of the brainstem. Outside the scanner, a digital mat was used to quantify the spatiotemporal gait biomechanics of these individuals. RESULTS We found a significant decrease in volume of the total brainstem, midbrain, and pons in persons with CP in comparison to the NT controls. Furthermore, we found that the altered volumes were related to reduced gait velocity and step length. SIGNIFICANCE The structural changes in the brainstems of persons with CP may contribute to the mobility impairments that are ubiquitous within this population.
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Affiliation(s)
- Michael P Trevarrow
- Institute for Human Neuroscience, Boys Town National Research Hospital, Omaha, NE 68010, USA
| | - Saihari S Dukkipati
- Institute for Human Neuroscience, Boys Town National Research Hospital, Omaha, NE 68010, USA
| | - Sarah E Baker
- Institute for Human Neuroscience, Boys Town National Research Hospital, Omaha, NE 68010, USA
| | - Tony W Wilson
- Institute for Human Neuroscience, Boys Town National Research Hospital, Omaha, NE 68010, USA; Department of Pharmacology & Neuroscience, Creighton University, Omaha, NE, USA
| | - Max J Kurz
- Institute for Human Neuroscience, Boys Town National Research Hospital, Omaha, NE 68010, USA; Department of Pharmacology & Neuroscience, Creighton University, Omaha, NE, USA.
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Sansare A, Reimann H, Crenshaw J, Arcodia M, Verma K, Lee SCK. Subthreshold electrical noise alters walking balance control in individuals with cerebral palsy. Gait Posture 2023; 106:47-52. [PMID: 37659222 DOI: 10.1016/j.gaitpost.2023.08.008] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/23/2023] [Revised: 05/24/2023] [Accepted: 08/17/2023] [Indexed: 09/04/2023]
Abstract
BACKGROUND Sensory deficits in individuals with cerebral palsy (CP) play a critical role in balance control. However, there is a lack of effective interventions that address sensory facilitation to improve walking balance. Stochastic Resonance (SR) stimulation involves delivering sub threshold noise to improve balance in patients with sensory deficits by enhancing the detection of sensory input. RESEARCH QUESTION To investigate the immediate effects of SR on walking balance in individuals with and without CP. METHODS Thirty-four participants (17 CP, 17 age-and sex-matched typically developing controls or TD) between 8 and 24 years of age were recruited. SR stimulation was applied to the muscles and ligaments of ankle and hip joint. An optimal SR intensity during walking was determined for each subject. Participants walked on a self-paced treadmill for three trials of two minutes each using a random order of SR stimulation (SR) and no stimulation (noSR) control conditions. Our primary outcome measure was minimum lateral margin of stability (MOS). Secondary outcome measures include anterior MOS before heelstrike and spatiotemporal gait parameters. We performed two-way mixed ANOVAs with group (CP, TD) as between-subject and condition (noSR, SR) as within subject factors. RESULTS Compared to walking without SR, there was a small but significant increase in the lateral and anterior MOS with SR stimulation, implying that a larger impulse was needed to become unstable, in turn implying higher stability. Step width and step ength decreased with SR for the CP group with SR stimulation. There were no significant effects for other spatiotemporal variables. SIGNIFICANCE Sub threshold electrical noise can slightly improve walking balance control in individuals with CP. SR stimulation, through enhanced proprioception, may have improved the CP group's awareness of body motion during walking, thus leading them to adopt a more conservative stability strategy to prevent a potential fall.
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Affiliation(s)
- Ashwini Sansare
- Department of Physical Therapy, University of Delaware, Newark, DE, USA
| | - Hendrik Reimann
- Department of Kinesiology and Applied Physiology, University of Delaware, Newark, DE, USA
| | - Jeremy Crenshaw
- Department of Kinesiology and Applied Physiology, University of Delaware, Newark, DE, USA
| | - Maelyn Arcodia
- Department of Kinesiology and Applied Physiology, University of Delaware, Newark, DE, USA
| | - Khushboo Verma
- Department of Physical Therapy, University of Delaware, Newark, DE, USA
| | - Samuel C K Lee
- Department of Physical Therapy, University of Delaware, Newark, DE, USA.
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Trevarrow MP, Bergwell HE, Groff BR, Wiesman AI, Wilson TW, Kurz MJ. Youth with Cerebral Palsy Display Abnormal Somatosensory Cortical Activity During a Haptic Exploration Task. Neuroscience 2023; 515:53-61. [PMID: 36796750 PMCID: PMC10023489 DOI: 10.1016/j.neuroscience.2023.01.030] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/17/2022] [Revised: 01/22/2023] [Accepted: 01/25/2023] [Indexed: 02/16/2023]
Abstract
There are numerous clinical reports that youth with cerebral palsy (CP) have proprioceptive, stereognosis and tactile discrimination deficits. The growing consensus is that the altered perceptions in this population are attributable to aberrant somatosensory cortical activity seen during stimulus processing. It has been inferred from these results that youth with CP likely do not adequately process ongoing sensory feedback during motor performance. However, this conjecture has not been tested. Herein, we address this knowledge gap using magnetoencephalographic (MEG) brain imaging by applying electrical stimulation to the median nerve of youth with CP (N = 15, Age = 15.8 ± 0.83 yrs, Males = 12, MACS levels I-III) and neurotypical (NT) controls (N = 18, Age = 14.1 ± 2.4 yrs, Males = 9) while at rest (i.e., passive) and during a haptic exploration task. The results illustrated that the somatosensory cortical activity was reduced in the group with CP compared to controls during the passive and haptic conditions. Furthermore, the strength of the somatosensory cortical responses during the passive condition were positively associated with the strength of somatosensory cortical responses during the haptic condition (r = 0.75, P = 0.004). This indicates that the aberrant somatosensory cortical responses seen in youth with CP during rest are a good predictor of the extent of somatosensory cortical dysfunction during the performance of motor actions. These data provide novel evidence that aberrations in somatosensory cortical function in youth with CP likely contribute to the difficulties in sensorimotor integration and the ability to effectively plan and execute motor actions.
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Affiliation(s)
- Michael P Trevarrow
- Institute for Human Neuroscience, Boys Town National Research Hospital, Omaha, NE, USA
| | - Hannah E Bergwell
- Institute for Human Neuroscience, Boys Town National Research Hospital, Omaha, NE, USA
| | - Boman R Groff
- Department of Psychology & Neuroscience, University of Colorado, Boulder, CO, USA
| | | | - Tony W Wilson
- Institute for Human Neuroscience, Boys Town National Research Hospital, Omaha, NE, USA; Department of Pharmacology & Neuroscience, Creighton University, Omaha, NE, USA
| | - Max J Kurz
- Institute for Human Neuroscience, Boys Town National Research Hospital, Omaha, NE, USA; Department of Pharmacology & Neuroscience, Creighton University, Omaha, NE, USA.
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Trevarrow MP, Dukkipati SS, Baker SE, Wilson TW, Kurz MJ. Reduced Brainstem Volume is Associated with Mobility Impairments in Youth with Cerebral Palsy. RESEARCH SQUARE 2023:rs.3.rs-2566073. [PMID: 36824764 PMCID: PMC9949252 DOI: 10.21203/rs.3.rs-2566073/v1] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 02/18/2023]
Abstract
Persons with cerebral palsy (CP) have impaired mobility that has been attributed to changes in structure and function within the nervous system. The brainstem is a region that plays a critical role in locomotion by connecting the cortex and cerebellum to the spinal cord, yet this region has been largely unstudied in persons with CP. The objective of this investigation was to use high-resolution structural MRI and biomechanical analyses to examine whether the volume of the whole brainstem and its constituent elements are altered in CP, and if these alterations relate to the mobility impairments within this population. We assessed the volume of the pons, midbrain, medulla, and superior cerebellar peduncle (SCP) in a cohort of persons with CP (N = 26; Age = 16.3 ± 1.0 yrs; GMFCS levels I-IV, Females = 12) and a cohort of neurotypical (NT) controls (N = 38; Age = 14.3 ± 0.4 yrs, Females = 14) using structural MR imaging of the brainstem. Outside the scanner, a digital mat was used to quantify the spatiotemporal gait biomechanics of these individuals. Our MRI results revealed that there was a significant decrease in volume of the total brainstem, midbrain, and pons in persons with CP in comparison to the NT controls. Furthermore, we found that the altered volumes were related to reduced gait velocity and step length. These results suggest that there are structural changes in the brainstems of persons with CP that may contribute to the mobility impairments that are ubiquitous within this population.
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11
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Milne SC, Kim SH, Murphy A, Larkindale J, Farmer J, Malapira R, Danoudis M, Shaw J, Ramakrishnan T, Rasouli F, Yiu EM, Georgiou-Karistianis N, Tai G, Zesiewicz T, Delatycki MB, Corben LA. The Responsiveness of Gait and Balance Outcomes to Disease Progression in Friedreich Ataxia. CEREBELLUM (LONDON, ENGLAND) 2022; 21:963-975. [PMID: 34855135 DOI: 10.1007/s12311-021-01348-2] [Citation(s) in RCA: 5] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Accepted: 11/17/2021] [Indexed: 06/13/2023]
Abstract
To identify gait and balance measures that are responsive to change during the timeline of a clinical trial in Friedreich ataxia (FRDA), we administered a battery of potential measures three times over a 12-month period. Sixty-one ambulant individuals with FRDA underwent assessment of gait and balance at baseline, 6 months and 12 months. Outcomes included GAITRite® spatiotemporal gait parameters; Biodex Balance System Postural Stability Test (PST) and Limits of Stability; Berg Balance Scale (BBS); Timed 25-Foot Walk Test; Dynamic Gait Index (DGI); SenseWear MF Armband step and energy activity; and the Friedreich Ataxia Rating Scale Upright Stability Subscale (FARS USS). The standardised response mean (SRM) or correlation coefficients were reported as effect size indices for comparison of internal responsiveness. Internal responsiveness was also analysed in subgroups. SenseWear Armband daily step count had the largest effect size of all the variables over 6 months (SRM = -0.615), while the PST medial-lateral index had the largest effect size (SRM = 0.829) over 12 months. The FARS USS (SRM = 0.824) and BBS (SRM = -0.720) were the only outcomes able to detect change over 12 months in all subgroups. The DGI was the most responsive outcome in children, detecting a mean change of -2.59 (95% CI -3.52 to -1.66, p < 0.001, SRM = -1.429). In conclusion, the FARS USS and BBS are highly responsive and can detect change in a wide range of ambulant individuals with FRDA. However, therapeutic effects in children may be best measured by the DGI.
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Affiliation(s)
- Sarah C Milne
- Bruce Lefroy Centre, Murdoch Children's Research Institute, Melbourne,, Australia.
- Physiotherapy Department, Monash Health, Melbourne, Australia.
- Monash Institute of Cognitive and Clinical Neurosciences, Monash University, Melbourne, Australia.
- Department of Paediatrics, The University of Melbourne, Melbourne, Australia.
- School of Primary and Allied Health Care, Monash University, Melbourne, Australia.
| | | | - Anna Murphy
- MonARC, Monash Health, Melbourne, Australia
- School of Public Health and Preventative Medicine, Monash University, Melbourne, Australia
| | | | | | | | - Mary Danoudis
- MonARC, Monash Health, Melbourne, Australia
- School of Public Health and Preventative Medicine, Monash University, Melbourne, Australia
| | | | | | | | - Eppie M Yiu
- Bruce Lefroy Centre, Murdoch Children's Research Institute, Melbourne,, Australia
- Department of Paediatrics, The University of Melbourne, Melbourne, Australia
- Department of Neurology, The Royal Children's Hospital Melbourne, Melbourne, Australia
| | - Nellie Georgiou-Karistianis
- Turner Institute for Brain and Mental Health, School of Psychological Sciences, Monash University, Melbourne, Australia
| | - Geneieve Tai
- Bruce Lefroy Centre, Murdoch Children's Research Institute, Melbourne,, Australia
| | | | - Martin B Delatycki
- Bruce Lefroy Centre, Murdoch Children's Research Institute, Melbourne,, Australia
- Department of Paediatrics, The University of Melbourne, Melbourne, Australia
- Victorian Clinical Genetics Services, Melbourne, Australia
| | - Louise A Corben
- Bruce Lefroy Centre, Murdoch Children's Research Institute, Melbourne,, Australia
- Department of Paediatrics, The University of Melbourne, Melbourne, Australia
- School of Primary and Allied Health Care, Monash University, Melbourne, Australia
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12
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Sansare A, Arcodia M, Lee SCK, Jeka J, Reimann H. Individuals with cerebral palsy show altered responses to visual perturbations during walking. Front Hum Neurosci 2022; 16:977032. [PMID: 36158616 PMCID: PMC9493200 DOI: 10.3389/fnhum.2022.977032] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/24/2022] [Accepted: 08/02/2022] [Indexed: 11/13/2022] Open
Abstract
Individuals with cerebral palsy (CP) have deficits in processing of somatosensory and proprioceptive information. To compensate for these deficits, they tend to rely on vision over proprioception in single plane upper and lower limb movements and in standing. It is not known whether this also applies to walking, an activity where the threat to balance is higher. Through this study, we used visual perturbations to understand how individuals with and without CP integrate visual input for walking balance control. Additionally, we probed the balance mechanisms driving the responses to the visual perturbations. More specifically, we investigated differences in the use of ankle roll response i.e., the use of ankle inversion, and the foot placement response, i.e., stepping in the direction of perceived fall. Thirty-four participants (17 CP, 17 age-and sex-matched typically developing controls or TD) were recruited. Participants walked on a self-paced treadmill in a virtual reality environment. Intermittently, the virtual scene was rotated in the frontal plane to induce the sensation of a sideways fall. Our results showed that compared to their TD peers, the overall body sway in response to the visual perturbations was magnified and delayed in CP group, implying that they were more affected by changes in visual cues and relied more so on visual information for walking balance control. Also, the CP group showed a lack of ankle response, through a significantly reduced ankle inversion on the affected side compared to the TD group. The CP group showed a higher foot placement response compared to the TD group immediately following the visual perturbations. Thus, individuals with CP showed a dominant proximal foot placement strategy and diminished ankle roll response, suggestive of a reliance on proximal over distal control of walking balance in individuals with CP.
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Affiliation(s)
- Ashwini Sansare
- Department of Physical Therapy, University of Delaware, Newark, DE, United States
| | - Maelyn Arcodia
- Department of Kinesiology and Applied Physiology, University of Delaware, Newark, DE, United States
| | - Samuel C. K. Lee
- Department of Physical Therapy, University of Delaware, Newark, DE, United States
| | - John Jeka
- Department of Kinesiology and Applied Physiology, University of Delaware, Newark, DE, United States
| | - Hendrik Reimann
- Department of Kinesiology and Applied Physiology, University of Delaware, Newark, DE, United States
- *Correspondence: Hendrik Reimann,
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Trevarrow M, Sanmann JN, Wilson TW, Kurz MJ. A Val 66Met polymorphism is associated with weaker somatosensory cortical activity in individuals with cerebral palsy. Heliyon 2022; 8:e10545. [PMID: 36119851 PMCID: PMC9474307 DOI: 10.1016/j.heliyon.2022.e10545] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/09/2021] [Revised: 06/21/2022] [Accepted: 08/31/2022] [Indexed: 11/27/2022] Open
Abstract
Background The brain-derived neurotrophic factor (BDNF) protein plays a prominent role in the capacity for neuroplastic change. However, a single nucleotide polymorphism at codon 66 of the BDNF gene results in significant reductions in neuroplastic change. Potentially, this polymorphism also contributes to the weaker somatosensory cortical activity that has been extensively reported in the neuroimaging literature on cerebral palsy (CP). Aims The primary objective of this study was to use magnetoencephalography (MEG) to probe if BDNF genotype affects the strength of the somatosensory-evoked cortical activity seen within individuals with CP. Methods and procedures and Procedures: Twenty individuals with CP and eighteen neurotypical controls participated. Standardized low resolution brain electromagnetic tomography (sLORETA) was used to image the somatosensory cortical activity evoked by stimulation of the tibial nerve. BDNF genotypes were determined from saliva samples. Outcomes and results The somatosensory cortical activity was weaker in individuals with CP compared to healthy controls (P = 0.04). The individuals with a Val66Met or Met66Met BDNF polymorphism also showed a reduced response compared to the individuals without the polymorphism (P = 0.03), had higher GMFCS levels (P = 0.04), and decreased walking velocity (P = 0.05). Conclusions and implications These results convey that BDNF genotype influences the strength of the somatosensory activity and mobility in individuals with CP. What this paper adds Previous literature has extensively documented altered sensorimotor cortical activity in individuals with CP, which ultimately contributes to the clinical deficits in sensorimotor processing documented in this population. While some individuals with CP see vast improvements in their sensorimotor functioning following therapeutic intervention, others are clear non-responders. The underlying basis for this discrepancy is not well understood. Our study is the first to identify that a polymorphism at the gene that codes for brain derived neurotrophic factor (BDNF), a protein well-known to be involved in the capacity for neuroplastic change, may influence the altered sensorimotor cortical activity within this population. Potentially, individuals with CP that have a polymorphism at the BDNF gene may reflect those that have difficulties in achieving beneficial outcomes following intervention. Thus, these individuals may require different therapeutic approaches in order to stimulate neuroplastic change and get similar benefits from therapy as their neurotypical peers.
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Affiliation(s)
- Michael Trevarrow
- Institute for Human Neuroscience, Boys Town National Research Hospital, Omaha, NE, USA
| | - Jennifer N Sanmann
- Department of Genetic Medicine, Munroe-Meyer Institute, University of Nebraska Medical Center, Omaha, NE, USA
| | - Tony W Wilson
- Institute for Human Neuroscience, Boys Town National Research Hospital, Omaha, NE, USA.,Department of Pharmacology and Neuroscience, College of Medicine, Creighton University, Omaha, NE, USA
| | - Max J Kurz
- Institute for Human Neuroscience, Boys Town National Research Hospital, Omaha, NE, USA.,Department of Pharmacology and Neuroscience, College of Medicine, Creighton University, Omaha, NE, USA
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14
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Dukkipati SS, Walker SJ, Trevarrow MP, Busboom M, Baker SE, Kurz MJ. Reduced wrist flexor H-reflex excitability is linked with increased wrist proprioceptive error in adults with cerebral palsy. Front Neurol 2022; 13:930303. [PMID: 36016542 PMCID: PMC9396222 DOI: 10.3389/fneur.2022.930303] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/27/2022] [Accepted: 07/18/2022] [Indexed: 12/03/2022] Open
Abstract
Although most neurophysiological studies of persons with cerebral palsy (CP) have been focused on supraspinal networks, recent evidence points toward the spinal cord as a central contributor to their motor impairments. However, it is unclear if alterations in the spinal pathways are also linked to deficits in the sensory processing observed clinically. This investigation aimed to begin to address this knowledge gap by evaluating the flexor carpi radialis (FCR) H-reflex in adults with CP and neurotypical (NT) controls while at rest and during an isometric wrist flexion task. The maximal H-wave (Hmax) and M-wave (Mmax) at rest were calculated and utilized to compute Hmax/Mmax ratios (H:M ratios). Secondarily, the facilitation of the H-wave was measured while producing an isometric, voluntary wrist flexion contraction (i.e., active condition). Finally, a wrist position sense test was used to quantify the level of joint position sense. These results revealed that the adults with CP had a lower H:M ratio compared with the NT controls while at rest. The adults with CP were also unable to facilitate their H-reflexes with voluntary contraction and had greater position sense errors compared with the controls. Further, these results showed that the adults with CP that had greater wrist position sense errors tended to have a lower H:M ratio at rest. Overall, these findings highlight that aberration in the spinal cord pathways of adults with CP might play a role in the sensory processing deficiencies observed in adults with CP.
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Affiliation(s)
- S. Shekar Dukkipati
- Boys Town National Research Hospital, Omaha, NE, United States
- College of Medicine, University of Nebraska Medical Center, Omaha, NE, United States
| | - Sarah J. Walker
- Boys Town National Research Hospital, Omaha, NE, United States
| | | | - Morgan Busboom
- Boys Town National Research Hospital, Omaha, NE, United States
| | - Sarah E. Baker
- Boys Town National Research Hospital, Omaha, NE, United States
| | - Max J. Kurz
- Boys Town National Research Hospital, Omaha, NE, United States
- School of Medicine, Creighton University, Omaha, NE, United States
- *Correspondence: Max J. Kurz
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15
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Marsico P, Mercer TH, van Hedel HJA, van der Linden ML. What are the relevant categories, modalities, and outcome measures for assessing lower limb somatosensory function in children with upper motor neuron lesions? A Delphi study. Disabil Rehabil 2022:1-10. [PMID: 35906774 DOI: 10.1080/09638288.2022.2102257] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/03/2022]
Abstract
PURPOSE Somatosensory function of the lower limbs is rarely assessed in children with upper motor neuron lesions despite its potential relevance for motor function. We explored consensus regarding somatosensory categories (exteroception, proprioception, interoception, and body awareness), modalities, and outcome measures relevant to lower limb motor function. METHODS Fifteen international experts with experience of somatosensory function assessment participated in this Delphi study. Surveys of four rounds, conducted online, included questions on the relevance of somatosensory categories and modalities for motor function and on the use of potential outcome measures in clinical practice. RESULTS The experts reached consensus on the relevance of six modalities of the categories exteroception, proprioception, and body awareness. Based on their feedback, we formulated three core criteria for somatosensory outcome measures, namely suitability for clinical practice, child-friendliness, and relevance for motor function. None of the nine available outcome measures fulfilled each criterion. The experts also highlighted the importance of using and interpreting the tests in relation to the child's activity and participation. CONCLUSION There was expert consensus on three categories and six modalities of somatosensory function relevant for lower limb motor function. However, existing outcome measures will need to be adapted for use in paediatric clinical practice. IMPLICATION FOR REHABILITATIONConsensus was established for the categories and modalities of somatosensory function relevant for lower limb motor function of children with UMN lesion.Outcome measures should cover tactile function, joint movement and joint position and dynamic position sense, and spatial and structural body representation.None of the nine existing outcome measures fulfilled the core criteria: feasibility for clinical practice, child-friendliness, and relevance to motor function.
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Affiliation(s)
- Petra Marsico
- Research Department, Swiss Children's Rehab, University Children's Hospital Zurich, Affoltern am Albis, Switzerland.,Children's Research Center CRC, University Children's Hospital Zurich, Zurich, Switzerland.,Centre for Health, Activity and Rehabilitation Research, Queen Margaret University, Edinburgh, UK
| | - Tom H Mercer
- Centre for Health, Activity and Rehabilitation Research, Queen Margaret University, Edinburgh, UK
| | - Hubertus J A van Hedel
- Research Department, Swiss Children's Rehab, University Children's Hospital Zurich, Affoltern am Albis, Switzerland.,Children's Research Center CRC, University Children's Hospital Zurich, Zurich, Switzerland.,Centre for Health, Activity and Rehabilitation Research, Queen Margaret University, Edinburgh, UK
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16
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Trevarrow MP, Taylor BK, Reelfs AM, Wilson TW, Kurz MJ. Aberrant movement-related somatosensory cortical activity mediates the extent of the mobility impairments in persons with cerebral palsy. J Physiol 2022; 600:3537-3548. [PMID: 35723200 PMCID: PMC9357205 DOI: 10.1113/jp282898] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/04/2022] [Accepted: 06/13/2022] [Indexed: 11/08/2022] Open
Abstract
KEY POINTS Persons with cerebral palsy (CP) have reduced somatosensory cortical responses at rest and during movement. The somatosensory cortical responses during movement mediate the relationship between the somatosensory cortical responses at rest and mobility. Persons with CP may have altered sensorimotor feedback that ultimately contributes to impaired mobility. ABSTRACT There are numerous clinical reports that persons with cerebral palsy (CP) have proprioceptive, stereognosis and tactile discrimination deficits. The current consensus is that these altered perceptions are attributable to aberrant somatosensory cortical activity. It has been inferred from these data that persons with CP do not adequately process ongoing sensory feedback during motor actions, which accentuates the extent of their mobility impairments. However, this hypothesis has yet to be directly tested. We used magnetoencephalographic (MEG) brain imaging to address this knowledge gap by quantifying the somatosensory dynamics evoked by applying electrical stimulation to the tibial nerve in 22 persons with CP and 25 neurotypical (NT) controls while at rest and during an ankle plantarflexion isometric force motor task. We also quantified the spatiotemporal gait biomechanics of participants outside the scanner. Consistent with the literature, our results confirmed that the strength of somatosensory cortical activity was weaker in the persons with CP compared to the NT controls. Our results also showed that the strength of the somatosensory cortical responses were significantly weaker during the isometric ankle force task than at rest. Most importantly, our results showed that the strength of somatosensory cortical activity during the ankle plantarflexion force production task mediated the relationship between somatosensory cortical activity at rest and both walking velocity and step length. These results suggest that youth with CP have aberrant somatosensory cortical activity during isometric force generation, which ultimately contributes to the extent of mobility impairments seen in this patient population. Abstract figure legend Magnetoencephalographic brain imaging was used to determine the effect of sensory feedback during movement on mobility in persons with cerebral palsy. Persons with cerebral palsy had reduced somatosensory cortical activity at rest and during movement compared with their neurotypical peers. Further, the somatosensory cortical activity during movement mediated the relationship between somatosensory cortical activity at rest and mobility. These results indicate that difficulties in sensorimotor integration may contribute to the mobility impairments seen in this patient population. This article is protected by copyright. All rights reserved.
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Affiliation(s)
- Michael P Trevarrow
- Institute for Human Neuroscience, Boys Town National Research Hospital, Omaha, NE, USA
| | - Brittany K Taylor
- Institute for Human Neuroscience, Boys Town National Research Hospital, Omaha, NE, USA
| | - Anna M Reelfs
- Institute for Human Neuroscience, Boys Town National Research Hospital, Omaha, NE, USA
| | - Tony W Wilson
- Institute for Human Neuroscience, Boys Town National Research Hospital, Omaha, NE, USA.,Department of Pharmacology & Neuroscience, Creighton University, Omaha, Nebraska
| | - Max J Kurz
- Institute for Human Neuroscience, Boys Town National Research Hospital, Omaha, NE, USA.,Department of Pharmacology & Neuroscience, Creighton University, Omaha, Nebraska
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Trevarrow MP, Reelfs A, Ott LR, Penhale SH, Lew BJ, Goeller J, Wilson TW, Kurz MJ. Altered spontaneous cortical activity predicts pain perception in individuals with cerebral palsy. Brain Commun 2022; 4:fcac087. [PMID: 35441137 PMCID: PMC9014448 DOI: 10.1093/braincomms/fcac087] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/13/2021] [Revised: 01/13/2022] [Accepted: 03/31/2022] [Indexed: 12/04/2022] Open
Abstract
Cerebral palsy is the most common paediatric neurological disorder and results in extensive impairment to the sensorimotor system. However, these individuals also experience increased pain perception, resulting in decreased quality of life. In the present study, we utilized magnetoencephalographic brain imaging to examine whether alterations in spontaneous neural activity predict the level of pain experienced in a cohort of 38 individuals with spastic diplegic cerebral palsy and 67 neurotypical controls. Participants completed 5 min of an eyes closed resting-state paradigm while undergoing a magnetoencephalography recording. The magnetoencephalographic data were then source imaged, and the power within the delta (2–4 Hz), theta (5–7 Hz), alpha (8–12 Hz), beta (15–29 Hz), low gamma (30–59 Hz) and high gamma (60–90 Hz) frequency bands were computed. The resulting power spectral density maps were analysed vertex-wise to identify differences in spontaneous activity between groups. Our findings indicated that spontaneous cortical activity was altered in the participants with cerebral palsy in the delta, alpha, beta, low gamma and high gamma bands across the occipital, frontal and secondary somatosensory cortical areas (all pFWE < 0.05). Furthermore, we also found that the altered beta band spontaneous activity in the secondary somatosensory cortices predicted heightened pain perception in the individuals with cerebral palsy (P = 0.039). Overall, these results demonstrate that spontaneous cortical activity within individuals with cerebral palsy is altered in comparison to their neurotypical peers and may predict increased pain perception in this patient population. Potentially, changes in spontaneous resting-state activity may be utilized to measure the effectiveness of current treatment approaches that are directed at reducing the pain experienced by individuals with cerebral palsy.
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Affiliation(s)
- Michael P. Trevarrow
- Institute for Human Neuroscience, Boys Town National Research Hospital, Omaha, NE, USA
| | - Anna Reelfs
- Institute for Human Neuroscience, Boys Town National Research Hospital, Omaha, NE, USA
| | - Lauren R. Ott
- Institute for Human Neuroscience, Boys Town National Research Hospital, Omaha, NE, USA
| | - Samantha H. Penhale
- Institute for Human Neuroscience, Boys Town National Research Hospital, Omaha, NE, USA
| | - Brandon J. Lew
- Institute for Human Neuroscience, Boys Town National Research Hospital, Omaha, NE, USA
| | - Jessica Goeller
- Department of Anesthesiology, University of Nebraska Medical Center, Omaha, NE, USA
| | - Tony W. Wilson
- Institute for Human Neuroscience, Boys Town National Research Hospital, Omaha, NE, USA
- Department of Pharmacology & Neuroscience, Creighton University, Omaha, NE, USA
| | - Max J. Kurz
- Institute for Human Neuroscience, Boys Town National Research Hospital, Omaha, NE, USA
- Department of Pharmacology & Neuroscience, Creighton University, Omaha, NE, USA
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18
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Trevarrow MP, Reelfs A, Baker SE, Hoffman RM, Wilson TW, Kurz MJ. Spinal cord microstructural changes are connected with the aberrant sensorimotor cortical oscillatory activity in adults with cerebral palsy. Sci Rep 2022; 12:4807. [PMID: 35314729 PMCID: PMC8938462 DOI: 10.1038/s41598-022-08741-9] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/24/2021] [Accepted: 02/21/2022] [Indexed: 11/20/2022] Open
Abstract
Previous animal models have illustrated that reduced cortical activity in the developing brain has cascading activity-dependent effects on the microstructural organization of the spinal cord. A limited number of studies have attempted to translate these findings to humans with cerebral palsy (CP). Essentially, the aberrations in sensorimotor cortical activity in those with CP could have an adverse effect on the spinal cord microstructure. To investigate this knowledge gap, we utilized magnetoencephalographic (MEG) brain imaging to quantify motor-related oscillatory activity in fourteen adults with CP and sixteen neurotypical (NT) controls. A subset of these participants also underwent cervical-thoracic spinal cord MRI. Our results showed that the strength of the peri-movement beta desynchronization and the post-movement beta rebound were each weaker in the adults with CP relative to the controls, and these weakened responses were associated with poorer task performance. Additionally, our results showed that the strength of the peri-movement beta response was associated with the total cross-sectional area of the spinal cord and the white matter cross-sectional area. Altogether these results suggest that the altered sensorimotor cortical activity seen in CP may result in activity-dependent plastic changes within the spinal cord microstructure, which could ultimately contribute to the sensorimotor deficits seen in this population.
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Affiliation(s)
- Michael P Trevarrow
- Institute for Human Neuroscience, Boys Town National Research Hospital, 14090 Mother Teresa Lane, Boys Town, NE, 68010, USA
| | - Anna Reelfs
- Institute for Human Neuroscience, Boys Town National Research Hospital, 14090 Mother Teresa Lane, Boys Town, NE, 68010, USA
| | - Sarah E Baker
- Institute for Human Neuroscience, Boys Town National Research Hospital, 14090 Mother Teresa Lane, Boys Town, NE, 68010, USA
| | | | - Tony W Wilson
- Institute for Human Neuroscience, Boys Town National Research Hospital, 14090 Mother Teresa Lane, Boys Town, NE, 68010, USA
| | - Max J Kurz
- Institute for Human Neuroscience, Boys Town National Research Hospital, 14090 Mother Teresa Lane, Boys Town, NE, 68010, USA.
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19
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From Hemispheric Asymmetry through Sensorimotor Experiences to Cognitive Outcomes in Children with Cerebral Palsy. Symmetry (Basel) 2022. [DOI: 10.3390/sym14020345] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/17/2022] Open
Abstract
Recent neuroimaging studies allowed us to explore abnormal brain structures and interhemispheric connectivity in children with cerebral palsy (CP). Behavioral researchers have long reported that children with CP exhibit suboptimal performance in different cognitive domains (e.g., receptive and expressive language skills, reading, mental imagery, spatial processing, subitizing, math, and executive functions). However, there has been very limited cross-domain research involving these two areas of scientific inquiry. To stimulate such research, this perspective paper proposes some possible neurological mechanisms involved in the cognitive delays and impairments in children with CP. Additionally, the paper examines the ways motor and sensorimotor experience during the development of these neural substrates could enable more optimal development for children with CP. Understanding these developmental mechanisms could guide more effective interventions to promote the development of both sensorimotor and cognitive skills in children with CP.
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Trevarrow MP, Lew BJ, Hoffman RM, Taylor BK, Wilson TW, Kurz MJ. Altered Somatosensory Cortical Activity Is Associated with Cortical Thickness in Adults with Cerebral Palsy: Multimodal Evidence from MEG/sMRI. Cereb Cortex 2021; 32:1286-1294. [PMID: 34416763 DOI: 10.1093/cercor/bhab293] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/09/2021] [Revised: 07/20/2021] [Accepted: 07/21/2021] [Indexed: 12/24/2022] Open
Abstract
Somatosensory cortical activity is altered in individuals with cerebral palsy (CP). However, previous studies have focused on the lower extremities in children with CP and have given less attention to structural changes that may contribute to these alterations. We used a multimodal neuroimaging approach to investigate the relationship between somatosensory cortical activity and cortical thickness in 17 adults with CP (age = 32.8 ± 9.3 years) and 18 healthy adult controls (age = 30.7 ± 9.8 years). Participants performed a median nerve paired-pulse stimulation paradigm while undergoing magnetoencephalography (MEG) to investigate somatosensory cortical activity and sensory gating. Participants also underwent magnetic resonance imaging to evaluate cortical thickness within the area of the somatosensory cortex that generated the MEG response. We found that the somatosensory responses were attenuated in the adults with CP (P = 0.004). The adults with CP also hypergated the second stimulation (P = 0.030) and had decreased cortical thickness in the somatosensory cortex (P = 0.015). Finally, the strength of the somatosensory response was significantly correlated with the cortical thickness (P = 0.023). These findings demonstrate that the aberrant somatosensory cortical activity in adults with CP extends to the upper extremities and appears to be related to cortical thickness.
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Affiliation(s)
- Michael P Trevarrow
- Institute for Human Neuroscience, Boys Town National Research Hospital, Boys Town, NE 68010, USA
| | - Brandon J Lew
- Institute for Human Neuroscience, Boys Town National Research Hospital, Boys Town, NE 68010, USA
| | - Rashelle M Hoffman
- Department of Physical Therapy, Creighton University, Omaha, NE 68178, USA
| | - Brittany K Taylor
- Institute for Human Neuroscience, Boys Town National Research Hospital, Boys Town, NE 68010, USA
| | - Tony W Wilson
- Institute for Human Neuroscience, Boys Town National Research Hospital, Boys Town, NE 68010, USA
| | - Max J Kurz
- Institute for Human Neuroscience, Boys Town National Research Hospital, Boys Town, NE 68010, USA
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21
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Doucet GE, Baker S, Wilson TW, Kurz MJ. Weaker Connectivity of the Cortical Networks Is Linked with the Uncharacteristic Gait in Youth with Cerebral Palsy. Brain Sci 2021; 11:brainsci11081065. [PMID: 34439684 PMCID: PMC8391166 DOI: 10.3390/brainsci11081065] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/29/2021] [Revised: 08/10/2021] [Accepted: 08/11/2021] [Indexed: 11/16/2022] Open
Abstract
Cerebral palsy (CP) is the most prevalent pediatric neurologic impairment and is associated with major mobility deficiencies. This has led to extensive investigations of the sensorimotor network, with far less research focusing on other major networks. The aim of this study was to investigate the functional connectivity (FC) of the main sensory networks (i.e., visual and auditory) and the sensorimotor network, and to link FC to the gait biomechanics of youth with CP. Using resting-state functional magnetic resonance imaging, we first identified the sensorimotor, visual and auditory networks in youth with CP and neurotypical controls. Our analysis revealed reduced FC among the networks in the youth with CP relative to the controls. Notably, the visual network showed lower FC with both the sensorimotor and auditory networks. Furthermore, higher FC between the visual and sensorimotor cortices was associated with larger step length (r = 0.74, pFDR = 0.04) in youth with CP. These results confirm that CP is associated with functional brain abnormalities beyond the sensorimotor network, suggesting abnormal functional integration of the brain’s motor and primary sensory systems. The significant association between abnormal visuo-motor FC and gait could indicate a link with visuomotor disorders in this patient population.
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22
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Pavão SL, Lima CRG, Rocha NACF. Association between sensory processing and activity performance in children with cerebral palsy levels I-II on the gross motor function classification system. Braz J Phys Ther 2021; 25:194-202. [PMID: 32540329 PMCID: PMC7990726 DOI: 10.1016/j.bjpt.2020.05.007] [Citation(s) in RCA: 8] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/14/2019] [Revised: 04/20/2020] [Accepted: 05/20/2020] [Indexed: 11/21/2022] Open
Abstract
BACKGROUND Investigating the influence of sensory processing disorders on the level of function of children with cerebral palsy (CP) may help therapists identify specific impairments that impact activity and participation in these children. This may provide direction on selection of interventions to improve function and quality of life. OBJECTIVES To investigate if sensory processing disorders in children with CP levels I and II on the Gross Motor Function Classification System (GMFCS) are associated with activity performance. METHODS Sensory processing and activity performance of 28 children with CP between 5 and 15 years (mean ± standard deviation; 9.9 ± 3.2 years) were evaluated using the Sensory Profile (SP) and Pediatric Evaluation of Disability Inventory (PEDI), respectively. Associations between the components of the SP and PEDI were assessed with Spearman correlation coefficients. Multiple linear regression analysis using backward stepwise method was used to determine the variables of sensory processing that are associated with activity performance on the PEDI. RESULTS The category of Behavioral Outcomes of Sensory Processing was the only variable associated with Functional Abilities in self-care and social function (r2 = 0.30 and r2 = 0.39, respectively) and Caregiver Assistance (r2 = 0.36 and r2 = 0.37, respectively), (p < 0.05). CONCLUSION Sensory processing in children with CP levels I-II on the GMFCS is associated with their ability to perform daily living activities and in their social interaction with the environment.
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Affiliation(s)
- Sílvia Leticia Pavão
- Department of Physical Therapy, Neuropediatrics Section, Universidade Federal de São Carlos, São Carlos, SP, Brazil; Departament Prevention and Rehabilitation in Physiotherapy, Universidade Federal do Paraná, Curitiba, PR, Brazil.
| | - Camila Resende Gâmbaro Lima
- Department of Physical Therapy, Neuropediatrics Section, Universidade Federal de São Carlos, São Carlos, SP, Brazil
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EEG measures of sensorimotor processing and their development are abnormal in children with isolated dystonia and dystonic cerebral palsy. NEUROIMAGE-CLINICAL 2021; 30:102569. [PMID: 33583764 PMCID: PMC8044718 DOI: 10.1016/j.nicl.2021.102569] [Citation(s) in RCA: 4] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/08/2020] [Revised: 01/12/2021] [Accepted: 01/13/2021] [Indexed: 01/12/2023]
Abstract
Dystonia is a disorder of sensorimotor integration associated with abnormal oscillatory activity within the basal ganglia-thalamo-cortical networks. Event-related changes in spectral EEG activity reflect cortical processing but are sparsely investigated in relation to sensorimotor processing in dystonia. This study investigates modulation of sensorimotor cortex EEG activity in response to a proprioceptive stimulus in children with dystonia and dystonic cerebral palsy (CP). Proprioceptive stimuli, comprising brief stretches of the wrist flexors, were delivered via a robotic wrist interface to 30 young people with dystonia (20 isolated genetic/idiopathic and 10 dystonic CP) and 22 controls (mean age 12.7 years). Scalp EEG was recorded using the 10-20 international system and the relative change in post-stimulus power with respect to baseline was calculated for the alpha (8-12 Hz) and beta (14-30 Hz) frequency bands. A clear developmental profile in event-related spectral changes was seen in controls. Controls showed a prominent early alpha/mu band event-related desynchronisation (ERD) followed by an event-related synchronisation (ERS) over the contralateral sensorimotor cortex following movement of either hand. The alpha ERD was significantly smaller in the dystonia groups for both dominant and non-dominant hand movement (ANCOVA across the 3 groups with age as covariate: dominant hand F(2,47) = 4.45 p = 0.017; non-dominant hand F(2,42) = 9.397 p < 0.001. Alpha ERS was significantly smaller in dystonia for the dominant hand (ANCOVA F(2,47) = 7.786 p = 0.001). There was no significant difference in ERD or ERS between genetic/idiopathic dystonia and dystonic CP. CONCLUSION: Modulation of alpha/mu activity by a proprioceptive stimulus is reduced in dystonia, demonstrating a developmental abnormality of sensorimotor processing which is common to isolated genetic/idiopathic and acquired dystonia/dystonic CP.
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Trevarrow MP, Kleinsmith J, Taylor BK, Wilson TW, Kurz MJ. The somatosensory cortical activity in individuals with cerebral palsy displays an aberrant developmental trajectory. J Physiol 2020; 599:1281-1289. [PMID: 33296078 DOI: 10.1113/jp280400] [Citation(s) in RCA: 8] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/11/2020] [Accepted: 11/16/2020] [Indexed: 12/31/2022] Open
Abstract
KEY POINTS Individuals with cerebral palsy (CP) have a reduced somatosensory cortical response Somatosensory cortical response strength decreases from adolescence to early adulthood Somatosensory cortical responses in youth with CP are similar to adult controls Individuals with CP may have aberrant maturation of the somatosensory system ABSTRACT: Numerous studies have documented tactile and proprioceptive deficits in children with cerebral palsy (CP) and linked these with weaker somatosensory cortical activity. However, whether such aberrations in somatosensory processing extend and/or progress into adulthood remains poorly understood. In the current study, we used magnetoencephalography (MEG) to investigate the primary somatosensory responses in a sample of individuals with CP (N = 42; age = 9-28 years) and a cohort of healthy controls (N = 23; age range = 11-23 years). Briefly, transient electrical stimulation was applied to the right tibial nerve, and standardized low-resolution brain electromagnetic tomography (sLORETA) was used to image the dynamic somatosensory cortical response. We found that the strength of somatosensory cortical activity within the 112-252 ms time window was significantly reduced in the individuals with CP compared with the healthy controls (HC = 286.53 ± 30.51, 95% CI [226.74, 346.32]; CP = 208.30 ± 19.66,CI [169.77, 246.83], P = 0.0126). These results corroborate previous findings of aberrant somatosensory cortical activity in individuals with CP. Our results also suggest that the somatosensory cortical activity tends to become weaker with age, with a similar rate of neurophysiological change in individuals with CP and healthy controls (P = 0.8790). Visualization of regression models fitted to the data imply that youth with CP may have somatosensory cortical activity similar to adult controls. These findings suggest that some individuals with CP exhibit an aberrant developmental trajectory of their somatosensory system.
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Affiliation(s)
- Michael P Trevarrow
- Institute for Human Neuroscience, Boys Town National Research Hospital, Boys Town, NE, USA
| | | | - Brittany K Taylor
- Institute for Human Neuroscience, Boys Town National Research Hospital, Boys Town, NE, USA
| | - Tony W Wilson
- Institute for Human Neuroscience, Boys Town National Research Hospital, Boys Town, NE, USA
| | - Max J Kurz
- Institute for Human Neuroscience, Boys Town National Research Hospital, Boys Town, NE, USA
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Kurz MJ, Bergwell H, Spooner R, Baker S, Heinrichs-Graham E, Wilson TW. Motor beta cortical oscillations are related with the gait kinematics of youth with cerebral palsy. Ann Clin Transl Neurol 2020; 7:2421-2432. [PMID: 33174692 PMCID: PMC7732255 DOI: 10.1002/acn3.51246] [Citation(s) in RCA: 10] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/06/2020] [Revised: 10/15/2020] [Accepted: 10/16/2020] [Indexed: 12/31/2022] Open
Abstract
OBJECTIVE It is widely believed that the perinatal brain injuries seen in youth with cerebral palsy (CP) impact neuronal processing of sensory information and the production of leg motor actions during gait. However, very limited efforts have been made to evaluate the connection between neural activity within sensorimotor networks and the altered spatiotemportal gait biomechanics seen in youth with CP. The objective of this investigation was to use magnetoencephalographic (MEG) brain imaging and biomechanical analysis to probe this connection. METHODS We examined the cortical beta oscillations serving motor control of the legs in a cohort of youth with CP (N = 20; Age = 15.5 ± 3 years; GMFCS levels I-III) and healthy controls (N = 15; Age = 14.1 ± 3 years) using MEG brain imaging and a goal-directed isometric knee target-matching task. Outside the scanner, a digital mat was used to quantify the spatiotemporal gait biomechanics. RESULTS Our MEG imaging results revealed that the participants with CP exhibited stronger sensorimotor beta oscillations during the motor planning and execution stages compared to the controls. Interestingly, we also found that those with the strongest sensorimotor beta oscillations during motor execution also tended to walk slower and have a reduced cadence. INTERPRETATION These results fuel the impression that the beta sensorimotor cortical oscillations that underlie leg musculature control may play a central role in the altered mobility seen in youth with CP.
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Affiliation(s)
- Max J Kurz
- Institute for Human Neuroscience, Boys Town National Research Hospital, Omaha, Nebraska, USA
| | - Hannah Bergwell
- Institute for Human Neuroscience, Boys Town National Research Hospital, Omaha, Nebraska, USA
| | - Rachel Spooner
- Institute for Human Neuroscience, Boys Town National Research Hospital, Omaha, Nebraska, USA
| | - Sarah Baker
- Institute for Human Neuroscience, Boys Town National Research Hospital, Omaha, Nebraska, USA
| | | | - Tony W Wilson
- Institute for Human Neuroscience, Boys Town National Research Hospital, Omaha, Nebraska, USA
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26
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(Re)organisation of the somatosensory system after early brain lesion: A lateralization index fMRI study. Ann Phys Rehabil Med 2020; 63:416-421. [DOI: 10.1016/j.rehab.2019.02.001] [Citation(s) in RCA: 5] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/28/2018] [Revised: 01/14/2019] [Accepted: 02/03/2019] [Indexed: 12/16/2022]
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Cappellini G, Sylos-Labini F, MacLellan MJ, Assenza C, Libernini L, Morelli D, Lacquaniti F, Ivanenko Y. Locomotor patterns during obstacle avoidance in children with cerebral palsy. J Neurophysiol 2020; 124:574-590. [DOI: 10.1152/jn.00163.2020] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/29/2022] Open
Abstract
Previous studies mainly evaluated the neuromuscular pattern generation in cerebral palsy (CP) during unobstructed gait. Here we characterized impairments in the obstacle task performance associated with a limited adaptation of the task-relevant muscle module timed to the foot lift during obstacle crossing. Impaired task performance in children with CP may reflect basic developmental deficits in the adaptable control of gait when the locomotor task is superimposed with the voluntary movement.
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Affiliation(s)
- G. Cappellini
- Laboratory of Neuromotor Physiology, Scientific Institute for Research, Hospitalization and Healthcare (IRCCS) Santa Lucia Foundation, Rome, Italy
- Department of Pediatric Neurorehabilitation, IRCCS Santa Lucia Foundation, Rome, Italy
| | - F. Sylos-Labini
- Laboratory of Neuromotor Physiology, Scientific Institute for Research, Hospitalization and Healthcare (IRCCS) Santa Lucia Foundation, Rome, Italy
| | - M. J. MacLellan
- Department of Applied Human Sciences, University of Prince Edward Island, Charlottetown, Prince Edward Island, Canada
| | - C. Assenza
- Department of Pediatric Neurorehabilitation, IRCCS Santa Lucia Foundation, Rome, Italy
| | - L. Libernini
- Department of Pediatric Neurorehabilitation, IRCCS Santa Lucia Foundation, Rome, Italy
| | - D. Morelli
- Department of Pediatric Neurorehabilitation, IRCCS Santa Lucia Foundation, Rome, Italy
| | - F. Lacquaniti
- Laboratory of Neuromotor Physiology, Scientific Institute for Research, Hospitalization and Healthcare (IRCCS) Santa Lucia Foundation, Rome, Italy
- Centre of Space Bio-medicine and Department of Systems Medicine, University of Rome Tor Vergata, Rome, Italy
| | - Y. Ivanenko
- Laboratory of Neuromotor Physiology, Scientific Institute for Research, Hospitalization and Healthcare (IRCCS) Santa Lucia Foundation, Rome, Italy
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28
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The Effect of Vibration Therapy on Walking Endurance in Children and Young People With Cerebral Palsy: Do Age and Gross Motor Function Classification System Matter? Arch Rehabil Res Clin Transl 2020; 2:100068. [PMID: 33543094 PMCID: PMC7853375 DOI: 10.1016/j.arrct.2020.100068] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/22/2022] Open
Abstract
Objective To investigate the effect of age and Gross Motor Function Classification System (GMFCS) level on walking endurance after 20 weeks of vibration therapy in children and young people with cerebral palsy (CP). Design The study was a clinical trial without control group comparing baseline and postintervention outcomes within participants. Setting Vibration therapy was performed at school or at home. Assessments took place in a clinical research unit. Participants Children and young people (N=59) with CP, aged 5-20 years, GMFCS level II, III, or IV, recruited through schools, physiotherapy services, and District Health Board clinics, Auckland, New Zealand. Interventions Participants performed side-alternating whole-body vibration therapy (WBVT) at 20 Hz and 3-mm amplitude, 9 minutes per day, 4 times per week for 20 weeks. Main Outcome Measures Distance walked in the 6-minute walk test (6MWT) was recorded before and after the intervention. Results Participants baseline results for the 6MWT were lower, independent of age or GMFCS, when compared to non-CP literature. On average, participants walked 12% further in the 6MWT after the intervention (P<.001). There was significant improvement in 6MWT distance in all age groups (5-10y: 16%, P<.001; 11-15y: 10%, P=.001; 16-20y: 13%, P<.001) and all GMFCS levels (level II: 10%, P<.001, level III: 40%, P=.013, level IV: 57%, P=.007). There was a greater percentage improvement in the distance walked in those with GMFCS level III and level IV than level II (P=.049 and P<.001, respectively). Conclusions WBVT had a beneficial effect on walking endurance in children and young people with CP, independent of age and GMFCS.
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29
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Spooner RK, Wiesman AI, Proskovec AL, Heinrichs-Graham E, Wilson TW. Rhythmic Spontaneous Activity Mediates the Age-Related Decline in Somatosensory Function. Cereb Cortex 2020; 29:680-688. [PMID: 29342238 DOI: 10.1093/cercor/bhx349] [Citation(s) in RCA: 57] [Impact Index Per Article: 14.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/02/2017] [Indexed: 01/26/2023] Open
Abstract
Sensory gating is a neurophysiological process whereby the response to a second stimulus in a pair of identical stimuli is attenuated, and it is thought to reflect the capacity of the CNS to preserve neural resources for behaviorally relevant stimuli. Such gating is observed across multiple sensory modalities and is modulated by age, but the mechanisms involved are not understood. In this study, we examined somatosensory gating in 68 healthy adults using magnetoencephalography (MEG) and advanced oscillatory and time-domain analysis methods. MEG data underwent source reconstruction and peak voxel time series data were extracted to evaluate the dynamics of somatosensory gating, and the impact of spontaneous neural activity immediately preceding the stimulation. We found that gating declined with increasing age and that older adults had significantly reduced gating relative to younger adults, suggesting impaired local inhibitory function. Most importantly, older adults had significantly elevated spontaneous activity preceding the stimulation, and this effect fully mediated the impact of aging on sensory gating. In conclusion, gating in the somatosensory system declines with advancing age and this effect is directly tied to increased spontaneous neural activity in the primary somatosensory cortices, which is likely secondary to age-related declines in local GABA inhibitory function.
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Affiliation(s)
- Rachel K Spooner
- Department of Neurological Sciences, University of Nebraska Medical Center (UNMC), Omaha, NE, USA.,Center for Magnetoencephalography, University of Nebraska Medical Center (UNMC), Omaha, NE, USA
| | - Alex I Wiesman
- Department of Neurological Sciences, University of Nebraska Medical Center (UNMC), Omaha, NE, USA.,Center for Magnetoencephalography, University of Nebraska Medical Center (UNMC), Omaha, NE, USA
| | - Amy L Proskovec
- Department of Neurological Sciences, University of Nebraska Medical Center (UNMC), Omaha, NE, USA.,Center for Magnetoencephalography, University of Nebraska Medical Center (UNMC), Omaha, NE, USA.,Department of Psychology, University of Nebraska - Omaha, Omaha, NE, USA
| | - Elizabeth Heinrichs-Graham
- Department of Neurological Sciences, University of Nebraska Medical Center (UNMC), Omaha, NE, USA.,Center for Magnetoencephalography, University of Nebraska Medical Center (UNMC), Omaha, NE, USA
| | - Tony W Wilson
- Department of Neurological Sciences, University of Nebraska Medical Center (UNMC), Omaha, NE, USA.,Center for Magnetoencephalography, University of Nebraska Medical Center (UNMC), Omaha, NE, USA
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Zarkou A, Lee SCK, Prosser LA, Jeka JJ. Foot and Ankle Somatosensory Deficits Affect Balance and Motor Function in Children With Cerebral Palsy. Front Hum Neurosci 2020; 14:45. [PMID: 32161527 PMCID: PMC7054234 DOI: 10.3389/fnhum.2020.00045] [Citation(s) in RCA: 20] [Impact Index Per Article: 5.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/01/2019] [Accepted: 01/31/2020] [Indexed: 01/03/2023] Open
Abstract
Sensory dysfunction is prevalent in cerebral palsy (CP). Evidence suggests that sensory deficits can contribute to manual ability impairments in children with CP, yet it is still unclear how they contribute to balance and motor performance. Therefore, the objective of this study was to investigate the relationship between lower extremity (LE) somatosensation and functional performance in children with CP. Ten participants with spastic diplegia (Gross Motor Function Classification Scale: I-III) and who were able to stand independently completed the study. Threshold of light touch pressure, two-point discriminatory ability of the plantar side of the foot, duration of cutaneous vibration sensation, and error in the joint position sense of the ankle were assessed to quantify somatosensory function. The balance was tested by the Balance Evaluation System Test (BESTest) and postural sway measures during a standing task. Motor performance was evaluated by using a battery of clinical assessments: (1) Gross Motor Function Measure (GMFM-66-IS) to test gross motor ability; (2) spatiotemporal gait characteristics (velocity, step length) to evaluate walking ability; (3) Timed Up and Go (TUG) and 6 Min Walk (6MWT) tests to assess functional mobility; and (4) an isokinetic dynamometer was used to test the Maximum Volitional Isometric Contraction (MVIC) of the plantar flexor muscles. The results showed that the light touch pressure measure was strongly associated only with the 6MWT. Vibration and two-point discrimination were strongly related to balance performance. Further, the vibration sensation of the first metatarsal head demonstrated a significantly strong relationship with motor performance as measured by GMFM-66-IS, spatiotemporal gait parameters, TUG, and ankle plantar flexors strength test. The joint position sense of the ankle was only related to one subdomain of the BESTest (Postural Responses). This study provides preliminary evidence that LE sensory deficits can possibly contribute to the pronounced balance and motor impairments in CP. The findings emphasize the importance of developing a thorough LE sensory test battery that can guide traditional treatment protocols toward a more holistic therapeutic approach by combining both motor and sensory rehabilitative strategies to improve motor function in CP.
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Affiliation(s)
- Anastasia Zarkou
- Spinal Cord Injury Research Laboratory, Crawford Research Institute, Shepherd Center, Atlanta, GA, United States
| | - Samuel C K Lee
- Department of Physical Therapy and Interdisciplinary Graduate Program in Biomechanics and Movement Science, University of Delaware, Newark, DE, United States.,Research Department, Shriners Hospital for Children, Philadelphia, PA, United States
| | - Laura A Prosser
- Department of Pediatrics, University of Pennsylvania & The Children's Hospital of Philadelphia, Philadelphia, PA, United States
| | - John J Jeka
- Department of Kinesiology and Applied Physiology, University of Delaware, Newark, DE, United States
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31
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McClelland VM, Cvetkovic Z, Lin JP, Mills KR, Brown P. Abnormal patterns of corticomuscular and intermuscular coherence in childhood dystonia. Clin Neurophysiol 2020; 131:967-977. [PMID: 32067914 PMCID: PMC7083222 DOI: 10.1016/j.clinph.2020.01.012] [Citation(s) in RCA: 17] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/03/2019] [Revised: 01/11/2020] [Accepted: 01/16/2020] [Indexed: 12/11/2022]
Abstract
OBJECTIVE Sensorimotor processing is abnormal in Idiopathic/Genetic dystonias, but poorly studied in Acquired dystonias. Beta-Corticomuscular coherence (CMC) quantifies coupling between oscillatory electroencephalogram (EEG) and electromyogram (EMG) activity and is modulated by sensory stimuli. We test the hypothesis that sensory modulation of CMC and intermuscular coherence (IMC) is abnormal in Idiopathic/Genetic and Acquired dystonias. METHODS Participants: 11 children with Acquired dystonia, 5 with Idiopathic/Genetic dystonia, 13 controls (12-18 years). CMC and IMC were recorded during a grasp task, with mechanical perturbations provided by an electromechanical tapper. Coherence patterns pre- and post-stimulus were compared across groups. RESULTS Beta-CMC increased post-stimulus in Controls and Acquired dystonia (p = 0.001 and p = 0.010, respectively), but not in Idiopathic/Genetic dystonia (p = 0.799). The modulation differed between groups, being larger in both Controls and Acquired dystonia compared with Idiopathic/Genetic dystonia (p = 0.003 and p = 0.022). Beta-IMC increased significantly post-stimulus in Controls (p = 0.004), but not in dystonia. Prominent 4-12 Hz IMC was seen in all dystonia patients and correlated with severity (rho = 0.618). CONCLUSION Idiopathic/Genetic and Acquired dystonia share an abnormal low-frequency IMC. In contrast, sensory modulation of beta-CMC differed between the two groups. SIGNIFICANCE The findings suggest that sensorimotor processing is abnormal in Acquired as well as Idiopathic/Genetic dystonia, but that the nature of the abnormality differs.
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Affiliation(s)
- Verity M McClelland
- Department of Basic and Clinical Neuroscience, Institute of Psychiatry, Psychology and Neuroscience, King's College London, United Kingdom; Children's Neurosciences Department, Evelina London Children's Hospital, Guy's and St Thomas NHS Foundation Trust, London, United Kingdom.
| | - Zoran Cvetkovic
- Department of Informatics, King's College London, United Kingdom.
| | - Jean-Pierre Lin
- Children's Neurosciences Department, Evelina London Children's Hospital, Guy's and St Thomas NHS Foundation Trust, London, United Kingdom.
| | - Kerry R Mills
- Department of Basic and Clinical Neuroscience, Institute of Psychiatry, Psychology and Neuroscience, King's College London, United Kingdom.
| | - Peter Brown
- Medical Research Council Brain Network Dynamics Unit and Nuffield Department of Clinical Neurosciences, University of Oxford, United Kingdom.
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32
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Chakraborty S, Nandy A, Kesar TM. Gait deficits and dynamic stability in children and adolescents with cerebral palsy: A systematic review and meta-analysis. Clin Biomech (Bristol, Avon) 2020; 71:11-23. [PMID: 31677546 DOI: 10.1016/j.clinbiomech.2019.09.005] [Citation(s) in RCA: 16] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/19/2019] [Revised: 07/19/2019] [Accepted: 09/08/2019] [Indexed: 02/07/2023]
Abstract
BACKGROUND Studies have demonstrated that ambulatory children and adolescents with cerebral palsy demonstrate atypical gait patterns. Out of numerous gait variables, identification of the most deteriorated gait parameters is important for targeted and effective gait rehabilitation. Therefore, this study aimed to identify the gait parameters with the most discriminating nature to distinguish cerebral palsy gait from normal gait. METHODS Multiple databases were searched to include studies on ambulatory children and adolescents with cerebral palsy that included gait (spatio-temporal, kinematic, and kinetic) and dynamic stability variables. FINDINGS Of 68 studies that met the inclusion criteria, 35 studies were included in the meta analysis. Effect size was used to assess the discriminative strength of each variable. A large effect (≥ 0.8) of cerebral palsy on double limb support time (Standardized Mean Difference = 0.98), step length (Standardized Mean Difference = 1.65), step width (Standardized Mean Difference = 1.21), stride length (Standardized Mean Difference = 1.75), and velocity (Standardized Mean Difference = 1.42) was observed at preferred-walking speed. At fast-walking speed, some gait variables (i.e. velocity and stride length) exhibited larger effect size compared to preferred-walking speed. For some kinematic variables (e.g. range of motion of pelvis), the effect size varied across the body planes. INTERPRETATION Our systematic review detects the most discriminative features of cerebral palsy gait. Non-uniform effects on joint kinematics across the anatomical planes support the importance of 3D gait analysis. Differential effects at fast versus preferred speeds emphasize the importance of measuring gait at a range of speeds.
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Affiliation(s)
- Saikat Chakraborty
- Machine Intelligence and Bio-motion Research Lab., Department of Computer Science and Engineering, National Institute of Technology, Rourkela, India. saikat.scgmail.com
| | - Anup Nandy
- Machine Intelligence and Bio-motion Research Lab., Department of Computer Science and Engineering, National Institute of Technology, Rourkela, India
| | - Trisha M Kesar
- Division of Physical Therapy, Department of Rehabilitation Medicine, Emory University, Atlanta, GA, USA
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Gehringer JE, Arpin DJ, VerMaas JR, Trevarrow MP, Wilson TW, Kurz MJ. The Strength of the Movement-related Somatosensory Cortical Oscillations Differ between Adolescents and Adults. Sci Rep 2019; 9:18520. [PMID: 31811232 PMCID: PMC6898653 DOI: 10.1038/s41598-019-55004-1] [Citation(s) in RCA: 11] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.2] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/31/2019] [Accepted: 11/22/2019] [Indexed: 12/18/2022] Open
Abstract
Adolescents demonstrate increasing mastery of motor actions with age. One prevailing hypothesis is that maturation of the somatosensory system during adolescence contributes to the improved motor control. However, limited efforts have been made to determine if somatosensory cortical processing is different in adolescents during movement. In this study, we used magnetoencephalographic brain imaging to begin addressing this knowledge gap by applying an electrical stimulation to the tibial nerve as adolescents (Age = 14.8 ± 2.5 yrs.) and adults (Age = 36.8 ± 5.0 yrs.) produced an isometric ankle plantarflexion force, or sat with no motor activity. Our results showed strong somatosensory cortical oscillations for both conditions in the alpha-beta (8–30 Hz) and gamma (38–80 Hz) ranges that occurred immediately after the stimulation (0–125 ms), and a beta (18–26 Hz) oscillatory response shortly thereafter (300–400 ms). Compared with the passive condition, all of these frequency specific cortical oscillations were attenuated while producing the ankle force. The attenuation of the alpha-beta response was greater in adolescents, while the adults had a greater attenuation of the beta response. These results imply that altered attenuation of the somatosensory cortical oscillations might be central to the under-developed somatosensory processing and motor performance characteristics in adolescents.
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Affiliation(s)
- James E Gehringer
- Center for Magnetoencephalography, University of Nebraska Medical Center, Omaha, NE, United States.,Department Physical Therapy, Munroe Meyer Institute, University of Nebraska Medical Center, Omaha, NE, United States
| | - David J Arpin
- Center for Magnetoencephalography, University of Nebraska Medical Center, Omaha, NE, United States.,Department Physical Therapy, Munroe Meyer Institute, University of Nebraska Medical Center, Omaha, NE, United States
| | - Jacy R VerMaas
- Center for Magnetoencephalography, University of Nebraska Medical Center, Omaha, NE, United States.,Department Physical Therapy, Munroe Meyer Institute, University of Nebraska Medical Center, Omaha, NE, United States
| | - Michael P Trevarrow
- Center for Magnetoencephalography, University of Nebraska Medical Center, Omaha, NE, United States.,Department Physical Therapy, Munroe Meyer Institute, University of Nebraska Medical Center, Omaha, NE, United States
| | - Tony W Wilson
- Center for Magnetoencephalography, University of Nebraska Medical Center, Omaha, NE, United States.,Department of Neurological Sciences, UNMC, Omaha, Nebraska, United States
| | - Max J Kurz
- Center for Magnetoencephalography, University of Nebraska Medical Center, Omaha, NE, United States. .,Department Physical Therapy, Munroe Meyer Institute, University of Nebraska Medical Center, Omaha, NE, United States.
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34
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Hoffman RM, Wilson TW, Kurz MJ. Hand Motor Actions of Children With Cerebral Palsy Are Associated With Abnormal Sensorimotor Cortical Oscillations. Neurorehabil Neural Repair 2019; 33:1018-1028. [PMID: 31679451 DOI: 10.1177/1545968319883880] [Citation(s) in RCA: 7] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.4] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 01/07/2023]
Abstract
Background. The neuroimaging literature on cerebral palsy (CP) has predominantly focused on identifying the structural aberrations (eg, fiber track integrity), with very few studies examining neural activity within the key networks that serve the production of hand movements. Objective. We aimed to start to fill this knowledge gap by using magnetoencephalographic brain imaging to quantify the temporal dynamics of the sensorimotor oscillations during a hand motor action. Methods: Children with CP (n = 12; MACS [Manual Abilities Classification System] levels I-III) and typically developing (TD) children (n = 26) performed an arrow-based version of the Eriksen flanker task where a button press was performed with either the second or third digit of the right hand depending on the arrow's direction. Results: Overall, the children with CP were less accurate and had slower reaction times compared with the TD children. These behavioral differences were closely linked with aberrant sensorimotor cortical oscillations seen in the children with CP. Compared with the TD children, the children with CP had a weaker gamma (68-82 Hz) response during motor execution and a weaker post-movement beta rebound (PMBR; 14-26 Hz) response on movement termination. Moreover, we observed a significant correlation between the amplitude of the gamma and PMBR with reaction time, with weaker gamma and PMBR responses being linked with slower reaction times. Conclusions: Overall, these results suggest that aberrations in motor-related gamma and beta cortical oscillations are associated with the impaired hand motor actions seen in children with CP.
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Affiliation(s)
| | - Tony W Wilson
- University of Nebraska Medical Center, Omaha, NE, USA
| | - Max J Kurz
- University of Nebraska Medical Center, Omaha, NE, USA
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35
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Kurz MJ, Wiesman AI, Coolidge NM, Wilson TW. Children with Cerebral Palsy Hyper-Gate Somatosensory Stimulations of the Foot. Cereb Cortex 2019; 28:2431-2438. [PMID: 28591842 DOI: 10.1093/cercor/bhx144] [Citation(s) in RCA: 22] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.4] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/30/2017] [Indexed: 12/15/2022] Open
Abstract
We currently have a substantial knowledge gap in our understanding of the neurophysiological underpinnings of the sensory perception deficits often reported in the clinic for children with cerebral palsy (CP). In this investigation, we have begun to address this knowledge gap by using magnetoencephalography (MEG) brain imaging to evaluate the sensory gating of neural oscillations in the somatosensory cortices. A cohort of children with CP (Gross Motor Function Classification System II-III) and typically developing children underwent paired-pulse electrical stimulation of the tibial nerve during MEG. Advanced beamforming methods were used to image significant oscillatory responses, and subsequently the time series of neural activity was extracted from peak voxels. Our experimental results showed that somatosensory cortical oscillations (10-75 Hz) were weaker in the children with CP for both stimulations. Despite this reduction, the children with CP actually exhibited a hyper-gating response to the second, redundant peripheral stimulation applied to the foot. These results have further established the nexus of the cortical somatosensory processing deficits that are likely responsible for the degraded sensory perceptions reported in the clinic for children with CP.
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Affiliation(s)
- Max J Kurz
- Department of Physical Therapy, Munroe Meyer Institute for Genetics and Rehabilitation, University of Nebraska Medical Center, Omaha, NE, USA.,Center for Magnetoencephalography, University of Nebraska Medical Center, Omaha, NE, USA
| | - Alex I Wiesman
- Center for Magnetoencephalography, University of Nebraska Medical Center, Omaha, NE, USA.,Department of Neurological Sciences, University of Nebraska Medical Center, Omaha, NE, USA
| | - Nathan M Coolidge
- Center for Magnetoencephalography, University of Nebraska Medical Center, Omaha, NE, USA
| | - Tony W Wilson
- Center for Magnetoencephalography, University of Nebraska Medical Center, Omaha, NE, USA.,Department of Neurological Sciences, University of Nebraska Medical Center, Omaha, NE, USA
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36
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Rosen AB, Yentes JM, McGrath ML, Maerlender AC, Myers SA, Mukherjee M. Alterations in Cortical Activation Among Individuals With Chronic Ankle Instability During Single-Limb Postural Control. J Athl Train 2019; 54:718-726. [PMID: 31162942 PMCID: PMC6602391 DOI: 10.4085/1062-6050-448-17] [Citation(s) in RCA: 28] [Impact Index Per Article: 5.6] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/09/2022]
Abstract
CONTEXT Chronic ankle instability (CAI) is characterized by repetitive ankle sprains and perceived instability. Whereas the underlying cause of CAI is disputed, alterations in cortical motor functioning may contribute to the perceived dysfunction. OBJECTIVE To assess differences in cortical activity during single-limb stance among control, coper, and CAI groups. DESIGN Cross-sectional study. SETTING Biomechanics laboratory. PATIENTS OR OTHER PARTICIPANTS A total of 31 individuals (10 men, 21 women; age = 22.3 ± 2.4 years, height = 169.6 ± 9.7 cm, mass = 70.6 ± 11.6 kg), who were classified into control (n = 13), coper (n = 7), and CAI (n = 11) groups participated in this study. INTERVENTION(S) Participants performed single-limb stance on a force platform for 60 seconds while wearing a 24-channel functional near-infrared spectroscopy system. Oxyhemoglobin (HbO2) changes in the supplementary motor area (SMA), precentral gyrus, postcentral gyrus, and superior parietal lobe were measured. MAIN OUTCOME MEASURE(S) Differences in averages and standard deviations of HbO2 were assessed across groups. In the CAI group, correlations were analyzed between measures of cortical activation and Cumberland Ankle Instability Tool (CAIT) scores. RESULTS No differences in average HbO2 were present for any cortical areas. We observed differences in the standard deviation for the SMA across groups; specifically, the CAI group demonstrated greater variability than the control (r = 0.395, P = .02; 95% confidence interval = 0.34, 0.67) and coper (r = 0.38, P = .04; 95% confidence interval = -0.05, 0.69) groups. We demonstrated a strong correlation that was significant in the CAI group between the CAIT score and the average HbO2 of the precentral gyrus (ρ = 0.64, P = .02) and a strong correlation that was not significant between the CAIT score and the average HbO2 of the SMA (ρ = 0.52, P = .06). CONCLUSIONS The CAI group displayed large differences in SMA cortical-activation variability. Greater variations in cortical activation may be necessary for similar static postural-control outcomes among individuals with CAI. Consequently, variations in cortical activation for these areas provide evidence for an altered neural mechanism of postural control among populations with CAI.
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Affiliation(s)
- Adam B. Rosen
- School of Health and Kinesiology, University of Nebraska, Omaha
| | | | - Melanie L. McGrath
- Department of Health and Human Performance, University of Montana, Missoula
| | | | - Sara A. Myers
- Department of Biomechanics, University of Nebraska, Omaha
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VerMaas JR, Gehringer JE, Wilson TW, Kurz MJ. Children with cerebral palsy display altered neural oscillations within the visual MT/V5 cortices. NEUROIMAGE-CLINICAL 2019; 23:101876. [PMID: 31176292 PMCID: PMC6555897 DOI: 10.1016/j.nicl.2019.101876] [Citation(s) in RCA: 10] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/27/2019] [Revised: 04/12/2019] [Accepted: 05/25/2019] [Indexed: 11/19/2022]
Abstract
Cortical visual processing in visual MT/V5 is necessary for tracking movement and performing reliable visuomotor transformations. Although the role of this cortical area is well recognized, the activity of the visual MT/V5 cortical area in children with cerebral palsy (CP) has not been examined nor has its potential role in the atypical motor actions of these children been considered. This study used magnetoencephalography to image the neural activity in the motion-sensitive MT/V5 cortices of typically developing (TD) children (n = 21; mean age 14 yrs. ± 2, 12 males) and children with CP (n = 21; mean age 16 yrs. ± 4, 13 males) as they viewed a horizontally moving stimulus. Behavioral measures of visual perception were additionally assessed by having the participants press a button when the visual stimulus changed to moving in vertical direction. Our results showed that the horizontal movement of the visual stimulus evoked changes in the strength of the theta-alpha (5-10 Hz) and alpha-beta (8-20 Hz) oscillations in the visual MT/V5 area of all participants. Compared with the TD children, the children with CP had weaker alpha-beta oscillations in the visual MT/V5 cortices. In addition, the children with CP took longer to perceive a directional change of the visual stimulus and made more errors in detecting the change. Lastly, weaker alpha-beta oscillations were correlated with slower detection of the change in motion direction and less accuracy in identifying the change. This study shows that the uncharacteristic neural oscillations in the visual MT/V5 cortical area may partially account for the abnormal perceptions and motor decisions seen in children with CP.
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Affiliation(s)
- Jacy R VerMaas
- Department of Physical Therapy, Munroe-Meyer Institute, University of Nebraska Medical Center, Omaha, NE, United States of America; Center for Magnetoencephalography, University of Nebraska Medical Center, Omaha, NE, United States of America
| | - James E Gehringer
- Department of Physical Therapy, Munroe-Meyer Institute, University of Nebraska Medical Center, Omaha, NE, United States of America; Center for Magnetoencephalography, University of Nebraska Medical Center, Omaha, NE, United States of America
| | - Tony W Wilson
- Center for Magnetoencephalography, University of Nebraska Medical Center, Omaha, NE, United States of America; Department of Neurological Sciences, College of Medicine, University of Nebraska Medical Center, Omaha, NE, United States of America
| | - Max J Kurz
- Department of Physical Therapy, Munroe-Meyer Institute, University of Nebraska Medical Center, Omaha, NE, United States of America; Center for Magnetoencephalography, University of Nebraska Medical Center, Omaha, NE, United States of America.
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Zarkou A, Lee SCK, Prosser LA, Hwang S, Jeka J. Stochastic resonance stimulation improves balance in children with cerebral palsy: a case control study. J Neuroeng Rehabil 2018; 15:115. [PMID: 30526617 PMCID: PMC6288963 DOI: 10.1186/s12984-018-0467-7] [Citation(s) in RCA: 14] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/11/2018] [Accepted: 11/21/2018] [Indexed: 12/22/2022] Open
Abstract
Background Stochastic Resonance (SR) Stimulation has been used to enhance balance in populations with sensory deficits by improving the detection and transmission of afferent information. Despite the potential promise of SR in improving postural control, its use in individuals with cerebral palsy (CP) is novel. The objective of this study was to investigate the immediate effects of electrical SR stimulation when applied in the ankle muscles and ligaments on postural stability in children with CP and their typically developing (TD) peers. Methods Ten children with spastic diplegia (GMFCS level I- III) and ten age-matched TD children participated in this study. For each participant the SR sensory threshold was determined. Then, five different SR intensity levels (no stimulation, 25, 50, 75, and 90% of sensory threshold) were used to identify the optimal SR intensity for each subject. The optimal SR and no stimulation condition were tested while children stood on top of 2 force plates with their eyes open and closed. To assess balance, the center of pressure velocity (COPV) in anteroposterior (A/P) and medial-lateral (M/L) direction, 95% COP confidence ellipse area (COPA), and A/P and M/L root mean square (RMS) measures were computed and compared. Results For the CP group, SR significantly decreased COPV in A/P direction, and COPA measures compared to the no stimulation condition for the eyes open condition. In the eyes closed condition, SR significantly decreased COPV only in M/L direction. Children with CP demonstrated greater reduction in all the COP measures but the RMS in M/L direction during the eyes open condition compared to their TD peers. The only significant difference between groups in the eyes closed condition was in the COPV in M/L direction. Conclusions SR electrical stimulation may be an effective stimulation approach for decreasing postural sway and has the potential to be used as a therapeutic tool to improve balance. Applying subject-specific SR stimulation intensities is recommended to maximize balance improvements. Overall, balance rehabilitation interventions in CP might be more effective if sensory facilitation methods, like SR, are utilized by the clinicians. Trial registration ClinicalTrials.gov identifier NCT02456376; 28 May 2015 (Retrospectively registered); https://clinicaltrials.gov/ct2/show/NCT02456376.
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Affiliation(s)
- Anastasia Zarkou
- Spinal Cord Injury Research Laboratory, Crawford Research Institute, Shepherd Center, 2020 Peachtree Rd NW, Atlanta, GA, 30309, USA.
| | - Samuel C K Lee
- Program in Biomechanics and Movement Science & Department of Physical Therapy, University of Delaware, 540 S. College Ave, Newark, DE, 19713, USA.,Shriners Hospital for Children, 3551 North Broad Street, Philadelphia, PA, 19140, USA
| | - Laura A Prosser
- University of Pennsylvania & The Children's Hospital of Philadelphia, 3401 Civic Center Boulevard, Philadelphia, PA, 19104, USA
| | - Sungjae Hwang
- Department of Kinesiology, University of Maryland Eastern Shore, William P. Hytche Center Room 1124, Princess Anne, MD, 21853, USA
| | - John Jeka
- Department of Kinesiology, University of Delaware, 540 S. College Ave, Newark, DE, 19713, USA
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Somatosensory Plasticity in Pediatric Cerebral Palsy following Constraint-Induced Movement Therapy. Neural Plast 2018; 2018:1891978. [PMID: 30532772 PMCID: PMC6250030 DOI: 10.1155/2018/1891978] [Citation(s) in RCA: 17] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/27/2018] [Accepted: 09/16/2018] [Indexed: 01/15/2023] Open
Abstract
Cerebral palsy (CP) is predominantly a disorder of movement, with evidence of sensory-motor dysfunction. CIMT1 is a widely used treatment for hemiplegic CP. However, effects of CIMT on somatosensory processing remain unclear. To examine potential CIMT-induced changes in cortical tactile processing, we designed a prospective study, during which 10 children with hemiplegic CP (5 to 8 years old) underwent an intensive one-week-long nonremovable hard-constraint CIMT. Before and directly after the treatment, we recorded their cortical event-related potential (ERP) responses to calibrated light touch (versus a control stimulus) at the more and less affected hand. To provide insights into the core neurophysiological deficits in light touch processing in CP as well as into the plasticity of this function following CIMT, we analyzed the ERPs within an electrical neuroimaging framework. After CIMT, brain areas governing the more affected hand responded to touch in configurations similar to those activated by the hemisphere controlling the less affected hand before CIMT. This was in contrast to the affected hand where configurations resembled those of the more affected hand before CIMT. Furthermore, dysfunctional patterns of brain activity, identified using hierarchical ERP cluster analyses, appeared reduced after CIMT in proportion with changes in sensory-motor measures (grip or pinch movements). These novel results suggest recovery of functional sensory activation as one possible mechanism underlying the effectiveness of intensive constraint-based therapy on motor functions in the more affected upper extremity in CP. However, maladaptive effects on the less affected constrained extremity may also have occurred. Our findings also highlight the use of electrical neuroimaging as feasible methodology to measure changes in tactile function after treatment even in young children, as it does not require active participation.
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Relationship between sensorimotor cortical activation as assessed by functional near infrared spectroscopy and lower extremity motor coordination in bilateral cerebral palsy. NEUROIMAGE-CLINICAL 2018; 20:275-285. [PMID: 30101059 PMCID: PMC6083901 DOI: 10.1016/j.nicl.2018.07.023] [Citation(s) in RCA: 10] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/30/2018] [Revised: 06/28/2018] [Accepted: 07/25/2018] [Indexed: 12/31/2022]
Abstract
Background Evaluation of task-evoked cortical responses during movement has been limited in individuals with bilateral cerebral palsy (CP), despite documented alterations in brain structure/function and deficits in motor control. Objective To systematically evaluate cortical activity associated with lower extremity tasks, and relate activation parameters to clinical measures in CP. Methods 28 ambulatory participants (14 with bilateral CP and 14 with typical development) completed five motor tasks (non-dominant ankle dorsiflexion, hip flexion and leg cycling as well as bilateral dorsiflexion and cycling) in a block design while their sensorimotor cortex was monitored using functional near infrared spectroscopy (fNIRS), in addition to laboratory and clinical measures of performance. Results Main effects for group and task were found for extent of fNIRS activation (number of active channels; p < 0.001 and p = 0.010, respectively), magnitude of activation (sum of beta values; p < 0.001 for both), and number of active muscles (p = 0.001 and p < 0.001, respectively), but no group by task interactions. Collectively, subgroups with CP and especially those with greater impairments, showed higher extent and magnitude of cortical sensorimotor activation as well as higher amounts of concurrent activity in muscles not required for task performance. Magnitude of fNIRS activation during non-dominant dorsiflexion correlated with validated measures of selective control (r = −0.60, p = 0.03), as well as mobility and daily activity (r = −0.55, p = 0.04 and r = −0.52, p = 0.05, respectively) and self-reported gait function (r = −0.68, p = 0.01) in those with CP. Conclusions The association between higher activity in the sensorimotor cortex and decreased selectivity in cortical organization suggests a potential neural mechanism of motor deficits and target for intervention. First fNIRS comparison of a range of lower extremity tasks in children with and without bilateral CP. FNIRS showed a greater amount and extent of activation of sensorimotor cortices in CP. Greater activation correlated with a greater number of muscles involved in the task. fNIRS results correlated to clinical measures of motor control and function.
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Gehringer JE, Arpin DJ, Heinrichs-Graham E, Wilson TW, Kurz MJ. Neurophysiological changes in the visuomotor network after practicing a motor task. J Neurophysiol 2018; 120:239-249. [PMID: 29589817 PMCID: PMC6093962 DOI: 10.1152/jn.00020.2018] [Citation(s) in RCA: 20] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/09/2018] [Revised: 03/09/2018] [Accepted: 03/23/2018] [Indexed: 01/25/2023] Open
Abstract
Although it is well appreciated that practicing a motor task updates the associated internal model, it is still unknown how the cortical oscillations linked with the motor action change with practice. The present study investigates the short-term changes (e.g., fast motor learning) in the α- and β-event-related desynchronizations (ERD) associated with the production of a motor action. To this end, we used magnetoencephalography to identify changes in the α- and β-ERD in healthy adults after participants practiced a novel isometric ankle plantarflexion target-matching task. After practicing, the participants matched the targets faster and had improved accuracy, faster force production, and a reduced amount of variability in the force output when trying to match the target. Parallel with the behavioral results, the strength of the β-ERD across the motor-planning and execution stages was reduced after practice in the sensorimotor and occipital cortexes. No pre/postpractice changes were found in the α-ERD during motor planning or execution. Together, these outcomes suggest that fast motor learning is associated with a decrease in β-ERD power. The decreased strength likely reflects a more refined motor plan, a reduction in neural resources needed to perform the task, and/or an enhancement of the processes that are involved in the visuomotor transformations that occur before the onset of the motor action. These results may augment the development of neurologically based practice strategies and/or lead to new practice strategies that increase motor learning. NEW & NOTEWORTHY We aimed to determine the effects of practice on the movement-related cortical oscillatory activity. Following practice, we found that the performance of the ankle plantarflexion target-matching task improved and the power of the β-oscillations decreased in the sensorimotor and occipital cortexes. These novel findings capture the β-oscillatory activity changes in the sensorimotor and occipital cortexes that are coupled with behavioral changes to demonstrate the effects of motor learning.
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Affiliation(s)
- James E Gehringer
- Center for Magnetoencephalography, University of Nebraska Medical Center , Omaha, Nebraska
- Department of Physical Therapy, Munroe Meyer Institute, University of Nebraska Medical Center , Omaha, Nebraska
| | - David J Arpin
- Center for Magnetoencephalography, University of Nebraska Medical Center , Omaha, Nebraska
- Department of Physical Therapy, Munroe Meyer Institute, University of Nebraska Medical Center , Omaha, Nebraska
| | - Elizabeth Heinrichs-Graham
- Center for Magnetoencephalography, University of Nebraska Medical Center , Omaha, Nebraska
- Department of Neurological Sciences, University of Nebraska Medical Center , Omaha, Nebraska
| | - Tony W Wilson
- Center for Magnetoencephalography, University of Nebraska Medical Center , Omaha, Nebraska
- Department of Neurological Sciences, University of Nebraska Medical Center , Omaha, Nebraska
| | - Max J Kurz
- Center for Magnetoencephalography, University of Nebraska Medical Center , Omaha, Nebraska
- Department of Physical Therapy, Munroe Meyer Institute, University of Nebraska Medical Center , Omaha, Nebraska
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Abstract
PURPOSE OF REVIEW To demonstrate how neurophysiological tools have advanced our understanding of the pathophysiology of paediatric movement disorders, and of neuroplasticity in the developing brain. RECENT FINDINGS Delineation of corticospinal tract connectivity using transcranial magnetic stimulation (TMS) is being investigated as a potential biomarker for response to therapy. TMS measures of cortical excitability and neuroplasticity are also being used to investigate the effects of therapy, demonstrating neuroplastic changes that relate to functional improvements. Analyses of evoked potentials and event-related changes in the electroencephalogaphy spectral activity provide growing evidence for the important role of aberrant sensory processing in the pathophysiology of many different movement disorders. Neurophysiological findings demonstrate that children with clinically similar phenotypes may have differing underlying pathophysiology, which in turn may explain differential response to therapy. Neurophysiological parameters can act as biomarkers, providing a means to stratify individuals, and are well suited to provide biofeedback. They therefore have enormous potential to facilitate improvements to therapy. SUMMARY Although currently a small field, the role of neurophysiology in paediatric movement disorders is poised to expand, both fuelled by and contributing to the rapidly growing fields of neuro-rehabilitation and neuromodulation and the move towards a more individualized therapeutic approach.
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Somatosensory Evoked Potentials and Central Motor Conduction Times in children with dystonia and their correlation with outcomes from Deep Brain Stimulation of the Globus pallidus internus. Clin Neurophysiol 2017; 129:473-486. [PMID: 29254860 PMCID: PMC5786451 DOI: 10.1016/j.clinph.2017.11.017] [Citation(s) in RCA: 25] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.6] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/28/2017] [Revised: 11/14/2017] [Accepted: 11/17/2017] [Indexed: 12/13/2022]
Abstract
A high proportion (47%) of children with dystonia have evidence of abnormal sensory pathway function. Central motor conduction times (CMCTs) and somatosensory evoked potentials (SEPs) show a significant relationship with deep brain stimulation (DBS) outcome, independent of aetiology or cranial MRI. CMCTs and SEPs can guide patient selection and help counsel families about potential benefit of DBS.
Objectives To report Somatosensory Evoked Potentials (SEPs) and Central Motor Conduction Times (CMCT) in children with dystonia and to test the hypothesis that these parameters predict outcome from Deep Brain Stimulation (DBS). Methods 180 children with dystonia underwent assessment for Globus pallidus internus (GPi) DBS, mean age 10 years (range 2.5–19). CMCT to each limb was calculated using Transcranial Magnetic Stimulation. Median and posterior tibial nerve SEPs were recorded over contralateral and midline centro-parietal scalp. Structural abnormalities were assessed with cranial MRI. One-year outcome from DBS was assessed as percentage improvement in Burke-Fahn-Marsden Dystonia Rating Scale (BFMDRS-m). Results Abnormal CMCTs and SEPs were found in 19% and 47% of children respectively and were observed more frequently in secondary than primary dystonia. Of children proceeding to DBS, better outcome was seen in those with normal (n = 78/89) versus abnormal CMCT (n = 11/89) (p = 0.002) and those with normal (n = 35/51) versus abnormal SEPs (n = 16/51) (p = 0.001). These relationships were independent of dystonia aetiology and cranial MRI findings. Conclusions CMCTs and SEPs provide objective evidence of motor and sensory pathway dysfunction in children with dystonia and relate to DBS outcome. Significance CMCTs and SEPs can contribute to patient selection and counselling of families about potential benefit from neuromodulation for dystonia.
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Papadelis C, Butler EE, Rubenstein M, Sun L, Zollei L, Nimec D, Snyder B, Grant PE. Reorganization of the somatosensory cortex in hemiplegic cerebral palsy associated with impaired sensory tracts. Neuroimage Clin 2017; 17:198-212. [PMID: 29159037 PMCID: PMC5683344 DOI: 10.1016/j.nicl.2017.10.021] [Citation(s) in RCA: 25] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.6] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/26/2017] [Revised: 09/27/2017] [Accepted: 10/18/2017] [Indexed: 02/08/2023]
Abstract
Functional neuroimaging studies argue that sensory deficits in hemiplegic cerebral palsy (HCP) are related to deviant somatosensory processing in the ipsilesional primary somatosensory cortex (S1). A separate body of structural neuroimaging literature argues that these deficits are due to structural damage of the ascending sensory tracts (AST). The relationship between the functional and structural integrity of the somatosensory system and the sensory performance is largely unknown in HCP. To address this relationship, we combined findings from magnetoencephalography (MEG) and probabilistic diffusion tractography (PDT) in 10 children with HCP and 13 typically developing (TD) children. With MEG, we mapped the functionally active regions in the contralateral S1 during tactile stimulation of the thumb, middle, and little fingers of both hands. Using these MEG-defined functional active regions as regions of interest for PDT, we estimated the diffusion parameters of the AST. Somatosensory function was assessed via two-point discrimination tests. Our MEG data showed: (i) an abnormal somatotopic organization in all children with HCP in either one or both of their hemispheres; (ii) longer Euclidean distances between the digit maps in the S1 of children with HCP compared to TD children; (iii) suppressed gamma responses at early latencies for both hemispheres of children with HCP; and (iv) a positive correlation between the Euclidean distances and the sensory tests for the more affected hemisphere of children with HCP. Our MEG-guided PDT data showed: (i) higher mean and radian diffusivity of the AST in children with HCP; (ii) a positive correlation between the axial diffusivity of the AST with the sensory tests for the more affected hemisphere; and (iii) a negative correlation between the gamma power change and the AD of the AST for the MA hemisphere. Our findings associate for the first time bilateral cortical functional reorganization in the S1 of HCP children with abnormalities in the structural integrity of the AST, and correlate these abnormalities with behaviorally-assessed sensory deficits.
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Affiliation(s)
- Christos Papadelis
- Fetal-Neonatal Neuroimaging & Developmental Science Center, Boston Children's Hospital, Harvard Medical School, Boston, MA, USA; Division of Newborn Medicine, Department of Medicine, Boston Children's Hospital, Harvard Medical School, Boston, MA, USA.
| | - Erin E Butler
- Thayer School of Engineering, Dartmouth College, Hanover, NH, USA; William H. Neukom Institute for Computational Science, Dartmouth College, Hanover, NH, USA
| | - Madelyn Rubenstein
- Fetal-Neonatal Neuroimaging & Developmental Science Center, Boston Children's Hospital, Harvard Medical School, Boston, MA, USA; Division of Newborn Medicine, Department of Medicine, Boston Children's Hospital, Harvard Medical School, Boston, MA, USA
| | - Limin Sun
- Fetal-Neonatal Neuroimaging & Developmental Science Center, Boston Children's Hospital, Harvard Medical School, Boston, MA, USA; Division of Newborn Medicine, Department of Medicine, Boston Children's Hospital, Harvard Medical School, Boston, MA, USA
| | - Lilla Zollei
- Athinoula A. Martinos Center for Biomedical Imaging, Massachusetts General Hospital, Harvard Medical School, Charlestown, MA, USA
| | - Donna Nimec
- Department of Orthopedic Surgery, Boston Children's Hospital, Harvard Medical School, Boston, MA, USA
| | - Brian Snyder
- Department of Orthopedic Surgery, Boston Children's Hospital, Harvard Medical School, Boston, MA, USA
| | - Patricia Ellen Grant
- Fetal-Neonatal Neuroimaging & Developmental Science Center, Boston Children's Hospital, Harvard Medical School, Boston, MA, USA; Division of Newborn Medicine, Department of Medicine, Boston Children's Hospital, Harvard Medical School, Boston, MA, USA; Department of Radiology, Boston Children's Hospital, Harvard Medical School, Boston, MA, USA
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Abstract
PURPOSE To describe the use and outcomes associated with the Upsee in conjunction with Kinesiotape for a child with cerebral palsy. DESCRIPTIONS The Upsee and Kinesiotaping were implemented for 24 weeks with a 31-month-old child with cerebral palsy, Gross Motor Function Classification System level III. OUTCOMES She progressed from walking with maximal assistance and extensive gait deviations to walking with supervision with a walker on level surfaces with improved gait. Genu recurvatum, heel strike, scissoring, hip extension, foot placement, step length, and stiff knee in swing improved on the basis of videotaped analyses. The Gross Motor Function Measure-66 improved by 11.4. CONCLUSIONS AND WHAT THIS CASE ADDS The Upsee is a clinically feasible approach for gait impairments in children through providing increased opportunities for walking while supporting biomechanical alignment. Upsee effectiveness with and without taping is an area for future study.
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The Case for Musical Instrument Training in Cerebral Palsy for Neurorehabilitation. Neural Plast 2016; 2016:1072301. [PMID: 27867664 PMCID: PMC5102741 DOI: 10.1155/2016/1072301] [Citation(s) in RCA: 16] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/24/2016] [Accepted: 09/29/2016] [Indexed: 01/31/2023] Open
Abstract
Recent imaging studies in cerebral palsy (CP) have described several brain structural changes, functional alterations, and neuroplastic processes that take place after brain injury during early development. These changes affect motor pathways as well as sensorimotor networks. Several of these changes correlate with behavioral measures of motor and sensory disability. It is now widely acknowledged that management of sensory deficits is relevant for rehabilitation in CP. Playing a musical instrument demands the coordination of hand movements with integrated auditory, visual, and tactile feedback, in a process that recruits multiple brain regions. These multiple demands during instrument playing, together with the entertaining character of music, have led to the development and investigation of music-supported therapies, especially for rehabilitation with motor disorders resulting from brain damage. We review scientific evidence that supports the use of musical instrument playing for rehabilitation in CP. We propose that active musical instrument playing may be an efficient means for triggering neuroplastic processes necessary for the development of sensorimotor skills in patients with early brain damage. We encourage experimental research on neuroplasticity and on its impact on the physical and personal development of individuals with CP.
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Wilson TW, Heinrichs-Graham E, Proskovec AL, McDermott TJ. Neuroimaging with magnetoencephalography: A dynamic view of brain pathophysiology. Transl Res 2016; 175:17-36. [PMID: 26874219 PMCID: PMC4959997 DOI: 10.1016/j.trsl.2016.01.007] [Citation(s) in RCA: 64] [Impact Index Per Article: 8.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/03/2015] [Revised: 01/15/2016] [Accepted: 01/18/2016] [Indexed: 01/12/2023]
Abstract
Magnetoencephalography (MEG) is a noninvasive, silent, and totally passive neurophysiological imaging method with excellent temporal resolution (∼1 ms) and good spatial precision (∼3-5 mm). In a typical experiment, MEG data are acquired as healthy controls or patients with neurologic or psychiatric disorders perform a specific cognitive task, or receive sensory stimulation. The resulting data are generally analyzed using standard electrophysiological methods, coupled with advanced image reconstruction algorithms. To date, the total number of MEG instruments and associated users is significantly smaller than comparable human neuroimaging techniques, although this is likely to change in the near future with advances in the technology. Despite this small base, MEG research has made a significant impact on several areas of translational neuroscience, largely through its unique capacity to quantify the oscillatory dynamics of activated brain circuits in humans. This review focuses on the clinical areas where MEG imaging has arguably had the greatest impact in regard to the identification of aberrant neural dynamics at the regional and network level, monitoring of disease progression, determining how efficacious pharmacologic and behavioral interventions modulate neural systems, and the development of neural markers of disease. Specifically, this review covers recent advances in understanding the abnormal neural oscillatory dynamics that underlie Parkinson's disease, autism spectrum disorders, human immunodeficiency virus (HIV)-associated neurocognitive disorders, cerebral palsy, attention-deficit hyperactivity disorder, cognitive aging, and post-traumatic stress disorder. MEG imaging has had a major impact on how clinical neuroscientists understand the brain basis of these disorders, and its translational influence is rapidly expanding with new discoveries and applications emerging continuously.
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Affiliation(s)
- Tony W Wilson
- Department of Pharmacology and Experimental Neuroscience, University of Nebraska Medical Center (UNMC), Omaha, Neb; Center for Magnetoencephalography, UNMC, Omaha, Neb; Department of Neurological Sciences, UNMC, Omaha, Neb.
| | - Elizabeth Heinrichs-Graham
- Department of Pharmacology and Experimental Neuroscience, University of Nebraska Medical Center (UNMC), Omaha, Neb; Center for Magnetoencephalography, UNMC, Omaha, Neb
| | - Amy L Proskovec
- Center for Magnetoencephalography, UNMC, Omaha, Neb; Department of Psychology, University of Nebraska - Omaha, Neb
| | - Timothy J McDermott
- Department of Pharmacology and Experimental Neuroscience, University of Nebraska Medical Center (UNMC), Omaha, Neb; Center for Magnetoencephalography, UNMC, Omaha, Neb
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Kurz MJ, Proskovec AL, Gehringer JE, Becker KM, Arpin DJ, Heinrichs-Graham E, Wilson TW. Developmental Trajectory of Beta Cortical Oscillatory Activity During a Knee Motor Task. Brain Topogr 2016; 29:824-833. [PMID: 27277428 DOI: 10.1007/s10548-016-0500-8] [Citation(s) in RCA: 22] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/19/2016] [Accepted: 06/01/2016] [Indexed: 01/10/2023]
Abstract
There is currently a void in the scientific literature on the cortical beta oscillatory activity that is associated with the production of leg motor actions. In addition, we have limited data on how these cortical oscillations may progressively change as a function of development. This study began to fill this vast knowledge gap by using high-density magnetoencephalography to quantify the beta cortical oscillatory activity over a cross-section of typically developing children as they performed an isometric knee target matching task. Advanced beamforming methods were used to identify the spatiotemporal changes in beta oscillatory activity during the motor planning and motor action time frames. Our results showed that a widespread beta event-related desynchronization (ERD) was present across the pre/postcentral gyri, supplementary motor area, and the parietal cortices during the motor planning stage. The strength of this beta ERD sharply diminished across this fronto-parietal network as the children initiated the isometric force needed to match the target. Rank order correlations indicated that the older children were more likely to initiate their force production sooner, took less time to match the targets, and tended to have a weaker beta ERD during the motor planning stage. Lastly, we determined that there was a relationship between the child's age and the strength of the beta ERD within the parietal cortices during isometric force production. Altogether our results suggest that there are notable maturational changes during childhood and adolescence in beta cortical oscillatory activity that are associated with the planning and execution of leg motor actions.
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Affiliation(s)
- Max J Kurz
- Department of Physical Therapy, Munroe-Meyer Institute for Genetics and Rehabilitation, University of Nebraska Medical Center, 68198-5450, Omaha, NE, USA. .,Center for Magnetoencephalography, University of Nebraska Medical Center, Omaha, NE, USA.
| | - Amy L Proskovec
- Center for Magnetoencephalography, University of Nebraska Medical Center, Omaha, NE, USA.,Department of Psychology, University of Nebraska - Omaha, Omaha, NE, USA
| | - James E Gehringer
- Department of Physical Therapy, Munroe-Meyer Institute for Genetics and Rehabilitation, University of Nebraska Medical Center, 68198-5450, Omaha, NE, USA.,Center for Magnetoencephalography, University of Nebraska Medical Center, Omaha, NE, USA
| | - Katherine M Becker
- Center for Magnetoencephalography, University of Nebraska Medical Center, Omaha, NE, USA
| | - David J Arpin
- Department of Physical Therapy, Munroe-Meyer Institute for Genetics and Rehabilitation, University of Nebraska Medical Center, 68198-5450, Omaha, NE, USA.,Center for Magnetoencephalography, University of Nebraska Medical Center, Omaha, NE, USA
| | | | - Tony W Wilson
- Center for Magnetoencephalography, University of Nebraska Medical Center, Omaha, NE, USA.,Pharmacology and Experimental Neuroscience, College of Medicine, University of Nebraska Medical Center, Omaha, NE, USA.,Department of Neurological Sciences, College of Medicine, University of Nebraska Medical Center, Omaha, NE, USA
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Children with cerebral palsy have uncharacteristic somatosensory cortical oscillations after stimulation of the hand mechanoreceptors. Neuroscience 2015; 305:67-75. [PMID: 26235434 DOI: 10.1016/j.neuroscience.2015.07.072] [Citation(s) in RCA: 24] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/09/2015] [Revised: 07/10/2015] [Accepted: 07/27/2015] [Indexed: 11/22/2022]
Abstract
Numerous clinical investigations have reported that children with cerebral palsy (CP) have tactile discrimination deficits that likely limit their ability to plan and manipulate objects. Despite this clinical awareness, we still have a substantial knowledge gap in our understanding of the neurological basis for these tactile discrimination deficits. Previously, we have shown that children with CP have aberrant theta-alpha (4-14 Hz) oscillations in the somatosensory cortices following tactile stimulation of the foot. In this investigation, we evaluated if these aberrant theta-alpha oscillations also extend to the hand. Magnetoencephalography was used to evaluate event-related changes in the theta-alpha and beta (18-34 Hz) somatosensory cortical oscillations in groups of children with CP and typically developing (TD) children following tactile stimulation of their hands. Our results showed that the somatosensory theta-alpha oscillations were relatively intact in children with CP, which is in contrast to our previous results for foot tactile stimulations. We suspect that these inter-study differences may be related to the higher probability that the neural tracts serving the lower extremities are damaged in children with CP, compared to those serving the upper extremities. This inference is plausible since the participating children with CP had Manual Ability Classification System (MACS) levels between I and II. In contrast to the theta-alpha results, children with CP did exhibit a sharp increase in beta activity during the same time period, which was not observed in TD children. This suggests that children with CP still have deficits in the computational aspect of somatosensory processing.
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