Training Balance Among People With Neurodevelopmental Disabilities

Study Overview
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Brief Summary
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This study is a case control pilot study to investigate the impact of a short-term intervention on training anticipatory postural adjustments in a population of people with neurodevelopmental disabilities.

Detailed Description
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Data will be collected by using a weighted pendulum to provide a posterior perturbation to test subjects' postural reactions pre and post-intervention. Intervention will include four sessions of weighted ball tosses/weighted tether ball stops to improve muscle activation patterns and efficiency. EMG sensors, 3D motion analysis, and force plates will be used to collect the necessary data.

Official Title
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Training Anticipatory Postural Adjustments Among People With Neurodevelopmental Disabilities

Conditions
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Posture, Balance, Cerebral Palsy, Autism, Down Syndrome

Intervention / Treatment
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* Other: Training with weighted ball


Participation Criteria
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Eligibility Criteria
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Inclusion Criteria: Participants Able to stand without assistance Diagnosis of cerebral palsy, Down Syndrome, or Autism Spectrum Disorder Able to stop weighted ball without falling Able to follow directions Controls Able to stand without assistance No neurodeveloopmental disability Able to stop weighted ball without falling Able to follow directions Exclusion Criteria: Pregnancy Unable to maintain standing when stopping a ball on a rope

Ages Eligible for Study
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Minimum Age: 8 Years
Maximum Age: 25 Years

Sexes Eligible for Study
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All

Accepts Healthy Volunteers
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Accepts Healthy Volunteers

Study Plan
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How is the study designed?
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Design Details

Primary Purpose: Treatment
Intervention Model: Single Group Assignment
Interventional Model Description: Case control, matched on gender, age, and BMI
Masking: None (Open Label)


Arms and Interventions

| Participant Group/Arm | Intervention/Treatment |
| --- | --- |
| Experimental: Training<br>Training 4 sessions over a one week time period of 180 catches/stops with a medicine ball. | Other: Training with weighted ball<br>* Participants will stop or catch a weighted ball<br>|

What is the study measuring?
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Primary Outcome Measures

| Outcome Measure | Measure Description | Time Frame |
| --- | --- | --- |
| Muscle activation timing | Evaluation in change in muscle activation timing of anterior tibialis, soleus, gastroc, rectus femoris, biceps femoris, rectus abdominis using electromyography | Pre-intervention muscle activation timing will be assessed on the initial visit. Post-intervention muscle activation timing will be assessed immediately after the fourth training session, at most, 7 days later. | 

Secondary Outcome Measures

| Outcome Measure | Measure Description | Time Frame |
| --- | --- | --- |
| Muscle amplitude response | Evaluation in change in amplitude of anterior tibialis, soleus, gastroc, rectus femoris, biceps femoris, rectus abdominis using electromyography | Pre-intervention muscle amplitude response will be assessed on the initial visit. Post-intervention muscle amplitude response will be assessed immediately after the fourth training session, at most, 7 days later. |