4MyChild: Help and Hope for Life

June 30, 2007

Orthotic Boots for Children With Cerebral Palsy: The Next Step in Pediatric Rehabilitative Boots

For Immediate Release

The Next Step in Pediatric Rehabilitative Boots

ASQ grant helps Miami University students develop
breakthrough design to benefit children with cerebral palsy

MILWAUKEE, July 18, 2005 ­ A grant from the
American Society for Quality (ASQ) Biomedical
Division awarded to Miami University of Ohio has
led to the design of a new and improved active
orthotic boot for children afflicted with
cerebral palsy (CP). The prototype, designed to
assist patients in their rehabilitation process,
was unveiled at ASQ’s World Conference in May
2005 by the team of students from the
university’s manufacturing and mechanical engineering department.

“Children who have spastic diplegia CP often will
walk on their toes,” said Michael Bailey-Van
Kuren, Ph.D., assistant professor at Miami
University. “Many methods of rehabilitation, with
existing problems, are applied to curb this form
of cerebral palsy. With new materials and
controls technology, new design, and new system
components, we hope our orthotic boot leads to
improved rehabilitative therapy.”

Recognizing a need for improvement in
rehabilitative orthotic boots, and working with
healthcare professionals, Bailey-Van Kuren led a
team of three students to develop a prototype
that seeks to advance the rehabilitation of
children with CP. Spastic diplegia, a commonly
occurring form of CP, often requires surgery in
later years to lengthen calf muscles.

Current orthotic boots provide stability without
actuation. The new device incorporates actuators
and a microcontroller that will monitor patient
feedback through foot angle and pressure exerted
against the boot. As each step is taken, the
microcontroller will analyze pressure and input
signals while providing output voltage to the
system actuators. The magnitude and duration of
the system output can be tuned and customized for
each patient according to the recommendations of
a professional pediatric physical therapist.

The new active orthotic boot hopes to alleviate
several problems that exist in the rehabilitation
process of children with spastic diplegia CP. One
is the inability of therapists to effectively
enforce daily stretching routines for patients.
Second, dynamic ankle foot orthotic (DAFO) braces
hold the patient’s foot in a stretched position
that prevents the ability to walk normally.
Third, the current design and serial casting
cause (s) itching, loss in muscle strength and
discomfort to the user. Also, in order to achieve
the ultimate goal of normal patient walking, the
boot must be equipped to measure results and track progress.

A system of components with enhanced designs has
been created for the current orthotic boot to
overcome existing problems. The system actuators
have the ability to move and stretch leg muscles
as part of a daily physical therapy routine.
Shape Memory Alloys (SMA) has been implemented to
provide the structure and motion needed for
therapy and the flexibility for added comfort.
System sensors, placed at the ball of the foot,
will differentiate when the patient is sitting
versus standing and monitor the interaction
between the user and boot. The electrical system
and configuration will help rehabilitate the
patient by constantly monitoring and adjusting to
the therapist input incorporated in the microcontroller program.

As the prototype and new active orthotic boot
take the next step – refinement of the original
concept – and ultimately completion, Bailey-Van
Kuren is proud of the work completed by his team
of students. “The new device could improve home
therapy for children with cerebral palsy and be
applied to other rehabilitative devices,” added Bailey-Van Kuren.

To highlight the potential of quality to benefit
humanity, ASQ provides grants and knowledge
transfer to improve our communities and life.
Headquartered in Milwaukee, Wisconsin, ASQ is the
world’s leading authority on quality. With more
than 100,000 individual and organizational
members, ASQ offers technologies, concepts,
tools, and training to quality professionals,
quality practitioners, and everyday consumers,
encouraging all to Make Good Great®.

For more information, visit http://www.asq.org. Find out more about cerebral palsy treatments and therapies at 4MyChild.