Effect of Using Robot Feedback for Treating Upper Extremity Movement Problems in Children with Cerebral Palsy

Principal Investigator: Kenton R. Kaufman, Ph.D.
Project Coordinator: Krista ColemanWood, Ph.D. — colemanwood.krista@mayo.edu

CosmoBot™

In collaboration with AnthroTronix, Inc., the Motion Analysis Laboratory will be measuring the results of two different types of physical therapy for children with cerebral palsy. A novel robot named CosmoBot™ will be used in one type of therapy. For the therapy sessions using the robot system, sensors are worn by the children and therapists direct the child to perform movements and activities that are therapeutic. As the child moves, the robot moves thus providing children with real time feedback. The second type of physical therapy that the "robot therapy" is being compared to is traditional physical therapy.

Children with cerebral palsy often have difficulty staying engaged in the therapy required to gain movement, strength and skills. It is proposed that children will be more willing to perform their therapy controlling the robot using gestures which require the children to move in ways that are therapeutically beneficial. If the children perform therapy better using the robot system, measurements of movement, strength and skill performed will change more than when they are getting their traditional therapy.

The children in this study have cerebral palsy that affects their arms. They are tested in the Motion Analysis lab before therapy and following a 6 week period of either conventional therapy or therapy using the CosmoBot™ system. The way the children move as well as their strength will be measured before and after therapy.