Pediatric Rehab Research Group

Background information:

This interdisciplinary translational research project aims to improve movement therapies for children with cerebral motor impairment using innovative rehabilitation technologies such as virtual realty therapy systems for upper and lower extremities. These technologies have been proven to be feasible for use with children by previous research of the involved groups. The systems will be extended and systematically tested on children with cerebral palsy, stroke and traumatic brain injuries in both hospital and outpatient settings. The clinical trials are designed to measure the outcome of defined interventions and include functional, neuropsycho-logical and neurophysiological assessment, as well as neuroimaging and gait analysis.

Goal

These rehabilitation technologies have been designed to enhance patient motivation and active participation to maximize neural plasticity and functional rehabilitation outcomes.

Project onset and end

From: July 2010
Until:

Project members

• Karin Brütsch
• Andreas Meyer-Heim
• Huub van Hedel

Cooperating partners

• Institute of Neuropsychology, University of Zurich, Prof. Lutz Jäncke
• Sensory-Motor Systems Lab, ETH Zurich, Prof. Robert Riener, Alex König, Urs Keller
• Rehabilitation Engineering Lab, Prof. Roger Gassert
• Zürcher Hochschule der Künste ZHdK, Game Design, Prof. Ulrich Götz, René Bauer, Reto Spörri, Florian Faller
• Institute of Neuroinformatics, Dr. Daniel Kiper, Dr. Kynan Eng
• Biomedical Optics Research Laboratory, PD Dr. Martin Wolf
• Sleep Centre Research Group, University Children’s Hospital Zurich, Prof. Reto Huber

Specific subprojects

• Short-term Neuroplasticity and Virtual Reality for Robotic Assisted Gait Training

Sponsor

• Fondation Gaydoul
  Mäxi Stiftung

Publications

• ongoing