Projects

CP-PERF Project

Title Gait performance evaluation in children with cerebral palsy: bridging the gap between laboratory and real life
Dates From 09.2015 to 02.2020
Principal investigator Stéphane Armand (K-Lab, UNIGE/HUG)
Other investigators Lena Carcreff (K-Lab, UNIGE/HUG), Corinna N. Gerber (CHUV), Anisoara Paraschiv-Ionescu (EPFL), Christopher J. Newman (CHUV), Kamiar Aminian (EPFL)
Institutional collaborations Pediatric Neurology and Neurorehabilitation Unit, Department of Pediatrics, Lausanne University Hospital; Laboratory of Movement Analysis and Measurement, Ecole Polytechnique Fédérale de Lausanne
Funding Fondation Leenaards, Fondation Just for Smile
Keywords Cerebral palsy; Gait; Inertial sensors; Clinical gait analysis; Daily life
Website Not available.
Related articles

Abstract
Gait assessments in standardized settings, as part of the clinical follow-up of children with cerebral palsy (CP), may not represent gait in daily life. This project aims at comparing gait characteristics in laboratory and real life settings on the basis of multiple parameters in children with CP and with typical development (TD). Sixteen children with CP and 15 with TD were included. They wore 5 inertial sensors (chest, thighs and shanks) during in-laboratory gait assessments and during 3 days of daily life.


After having evaluated the precision and accuracy of the wearable system against the clinical standard (optoelectronic system) [published article available in the following link], gait parameters measured in the laboratory were compared to the same parameters measured in daily life. Sixteen parameters were computed from the angular velocities and/or accelerations, e.g. walking speed, stride time, knee range of motion, steps asymmetry and variability. Bridging the gap of knowledge between both environments is expected to help the clinicians to propose more targeted treatments, thus enhance the patients’ medical care and quality of life.