Thesis (M.S.)--University of Oregon, 2004. / Includes bibliographical references (leaves 56-58). Also available online (PDF file) by a subscription to the set or by purchasing the individual file.

Thesis (M.S.)--University of Oregon, 2004. / Includes bibliographical references (leaves 56-58).

The purpose of this study was to examine the kinematics of the pelvis and the right hip and the electromyographic activity of the gluteus maximus and biceps femoris during backward walking in children with spastic diplegic cerebral palsy and children without known disabilities. Subjects included 6 children, three with a diagnosis of spastic diplegia and three without known disabilities. The results of the study showed important differences between the experimental group and the control group. Subjects with spastic diplegic cerebral palsy (SDCP) walked backwards with less hip extension, more body rotation, shorter and slower steps, and used a higher percentage of their maximum voluntary contraction than the control group. No significant differences were found between both groups in the total amount of hip sagittal range of motion; however, these motions occurred towards flexion in the group of children with spastic diplegic cerebral palsy and towards neutral and extension in the control group. Independent backward walking seems not to be an effective way to promote active hip extension in children with spastic diplegic cerebral palsy. Clinicians using backward walking in therapeutic programs may benefit from this data.

Thesis (Ph. D.)--University of Oregon, 2005. / Includes bibliographical references (leaves 115-119). Also available online (PDF file) by a subscription to the set or by purchasing the individual file.

Thesis (Ph. D.)--University of Oregon, 2005. / Typescript. Includes vita and abstract. Includes bibliographical references (leaves 115-119). Also available for download via the World Wide Web; free to University of Oregon users.

Thesis (Ph. D.)--University of Oregon, 2005. / Includes bibliographical references (leaves 115-119)

xiii, 103 p. : ill. A print copy of this thesis is available through the UO Libraries. Search the library catalog for the location and call number. / The purpose of this dissertation was (1) to investigate the effects of dual task conditions on the development of postural control during gait in typically developing children while walking and obstacle crossing, and (2) to investigate the attentional requirements of gait in children with cerebral palsy (CP). Forty younger and older typically developing (YTD and OTD) children and 10 children with CP performed a gait task with and without a concurrently auditory Stroop task. Gait and cognitive performance were measured. In study 1, dual task interference with gait performance was found in YTD and OTD children, but not in healthy young adults (HYA). In general, gait performance decrements under dual task contexts were greater in YTD than OTD children, whereas cognitive performance decrements during dual tasking were not different between the two groups of children. Dual task interference was lowest in HYA and highest in YTD children when compared among groups. As the difficulty of the gait task was increased, dual task affects on cognitive performance were now found in YTD and OTD children, but not HYA. In study 2, there were significant differences in dual task interference affecting gait performance in all groups of children. When performing the gait task with a concurrent auditory Stroop task, OTD children showed greater dual-task costs than children with CP for accuracy, but children with CP demonstrated greater dual-task costs than OTD and YTD children for medial Center of Mass-Ankle-joint-center inclination angle. This increased medio-lateral inclination angle in dual task situations has also been seen in older adults with balance deficits and may be associated with an increased risk for falls. YTD children showed dual-task costs in a slowing of gait velocity and stride time, a safer strategy than that used by children with CP. The lower cognitive performance during dual tasking for OTD children suggests that they allocate greater attention to maintain gait stability, whereas YTD children and children with CP do not. In addition, children with CP use a behavior that may increase their risk of falls in complex environments. This dissertation includes unpublished co-authored material. / Committee in charge: Marjorie Woollacott, Chairperson, Human Physiology; Paul van Donkelaar, Member, Human Physiology; Li-Shan Chou, Member, Human Physiology; Paul Dassonville, Outside Member, Psychology