On The Importance of Cerebral Palsy Research
The following is a blog spotlight on PoWER Lab, a US-based human neuroscience lab.
Take a moment and imagine how you start your morning every day. Most people don’t think twice about how to get out of bed, walk to the bathroom and balance on two feet while brushing their teeth. Add in the complexity of using stairs, putting on clothes, opening doors, and movement become much more complicated.
We know mobility is often taken for granted but is required for almost every aspect of life. We also know that many people with cerebral palsy have difficulty navigating their daily world — whether at home, school, the grocery store, a local park, or a massive concert venue because of mobility challenges and limitations. The Physiology of Walking & Engineering Rehabilitation (PoWER) Laboratory is a human neuroscience laboratory at the Institute for Human Neuroscience at Boys Town National Research Hospital in Omaha, Nebraska.
“Our main goal is to provide innovative solutions such as new physical therapy techniques that can help people with cerebral palsy improve function and mobility. These advancements are achieved by using state-of-the-art biomechanical and neuroimaging tools and techniques. ”
The tools used in our studies are safe and non-invasive brain imaging such as magnetic resonance imaging (MRI), magnetoencephalography (MEG), and electroencephalography (EEG). The MRI uses strong circling magnets that create a 3D image of the person’s brain or spinal cord. The MEG uses that image to map brain activity while performing different tasks or brain games. The EEG allows for brain activity to be seen during movement such as walking. All these techniques allow us to get a full picture of one’s brain structure and activity while performing simple tasks like kicking, grip squeezing, or pressing a button.
But the brain isn’t the whole picture. Beyond what’s happening inside the brain, we are also curious about how the body moves throughout daily environments. To explore this important connection, we collaborate with the physical therapy clinic at Boys Town National Research Hospital. While most people with CP have had experiences with PT at some point or another, our PT clinic is special because of its holistic emphasis on achieving personal movement goals. The clinic has a variety of tools such as a gait walkway, movement sensors, zero-gravity harness system, exoskeletons, and an outdoor course that challenges the brain and body to enhance mobility in a unique way. The PT clinic provides valuable assessments of balance, strength, arm movements, and walking for us to see how one’s brain and body communicate with each other and how that affects one’s unique movement.
“New discoveries and treatment techniques would not be possible without research and the valuable role that research participants play in learning more about mobility and cerebral palsy. ”
We offer several studies for people with cerebral palsy of various ages and abilities to learn more about their unique brain-body connection. Our largest current study is funded by the National Institutes of Health for kids and teens with cerebral palsy between the ages of 13 and 18 years old that can walk with or without assistance. We also seek to remove all barriers for participating in this study, so all travel costs (flights, hotel, mileage, and meals) are fully compensated, and each participant will receive up to $200 and a group pass to the Henry Doorly Zoo for completing the study. Participants will have the opportunity to undergo free MEG, MRI, EEG, and mobility tests with our team to explore the brain’s activity during movement and walking. If you or your child are interested in this study or learning more about other available studies, please contact the PoWER Lab at 402-249-9465 or power@boystown.org!
While we are greatly appreciative for all that our participants do, we know their stories expand well beyond the doors of research. We are incredibly grateful to be a part of the Cerebral Palsy Strong community and share in their mission to celebrate and empower people with cerebral palsy to use their voices. We love collaborating with amazing organizations that build supporting, inclusive communities to raise awareness for a disability that is often underrepresented in mainstream media.
If you would like to learn more about cerebral palsy research and PoWER Lab’s ongoing studies, please tune into our upcoming Instagram Live conversation on Wednesday, May 14th at 4pm PST/7pm EST @cerebralpalsystrong on IG!
