Children born with cerebral palsy have characteristic problems controlling their muscles. In fact, muscle spasticity and an inability to perform fine tasks are both distinguishing characteristics of this group of disorders. At Rice University, engineering students have devised a way to try to help children with cerebral palsy get more use out of their hands.
The group of seniors calls themselves Helping Hands. They designed a rehabilitation device called the Dino-Might. This device provides a way for people with cerebral palsy who have had surgery to improve the control of their hands and to gain the necessary strength and coordination to use them effectively.
Dino-Might Helps Build Post-Opp Strength
One fairly common procedure used to help people with cerebral palsy is a surgery that prepositions one of the tendons in their wrists. This allows them to open up their hands. Many people with cerebral palsy have hands that are permanently stuck in a half grasping position that makes it impossible for them to do anything with their fingers or hands.
The device is designed to augment the surgery by providing a type of physical therapy that also gives physicians and other medical professionals feedback on how they are progressing.
To make physical therapy more enjoyable for the patients, this device allows them to strengthen their hands by playing a video game that features an animated dinosaur. The idea behind the game is to provide a way for the child to give useful feedback to researchers and, at the same time, to help the child get better coordination after the surgery.
Even though the surgery can do wonders for improving the level of control that the child has over their hands and wrists, they still need to do a lot of work to ensure that they get the best possible coordination and strength.
Your Very Own Dinosaur
The game emphasizes coordination and strength by having the child use controllers to follow different routes in the game. What makes the Rice University device a bit different from the other ones available is that it combines the functions of several different devices into one. It can also be set up so that it is customized to each child who uses it, allowing them to get the maximum benefit.
Unfortunately, not every child with cerebral palsy has access to therapeutic devices such as the Rice University dinosaur game. If your child’s cerebral palsy was the result of medical malpractice, contact an attorney for a free consultation. They may be able to help you with a lawsuit that could win your child compensation for their medical expenses.