Biomechanical assessment of passive joint control in children with cerebral palsy-instrumentation
In this study a measurement system is described which is used to quantitatively evaluate joint dynamics at the elbow, knee and ankle during active and passive motion. The test instrument consists of a computer controlled DC servo motor; torque, displacement and other sensors; signal conditioning electronics; and a data acquisition and analysis system. The system is being used in conjunction with clinical tests to evaluate a group of children with cerebral palsy undergoing dorsal segmental rhizotomy surgery to reduce spasticity and improve ambulatory capacity.<<ETX>>