The aim of this thesis is to attempt to summarize what communication possibilities children suffering from a serious form of infantile cerebral palsy have, to describe them and possibly to clarify what exactly restricts these possibilities. The thesis also tries to answer the question in what way the communication of these individuals differs from the communication of intact persons. The core of the thesis resides in a theoretical exposition which deals - among others - with the communication process and its verbal and non-verbal parts, the diagnostic characterization of the infantile cerebral palsy and the impaired communication ability in symptomatic speech disorders which are associated with this disability. It describes how especially mobility impairment and mental retardation are reflected in the way and possibilities of communication. Special attention is paid to methods of alternative and augmentative communication which can be used as a therapy in the stimulation of the development of communication and speech skills, and which very often represent one of few possible ways of communicating for persons with this disability. The theoretical part is accompanied by video recordings showing communication of four girls suffering from infantile cerebral palsy. As manifestations of this diagnosis...

The Focus of this study is to present Pro-Active approach and its use in pediatric occupational therapy. The main goal is to find out the effect of the Pro-active approach to neurorehabilitation on function capability of children with spastic quadruparesis form of cerebral palsy. In the first part is presented an overview of the issue of the Pro-active approach, which is made on the basis of a literature search. Nine patients participate in this study. The pro-active approach was applied to all of them. The first case study acted as a pre- research, she had 4 months of therapy with 25 therapies. The other 8 case studies took place for 5-weeks, with occupational therapy 3 times a week. Participants were assessed with the Pediatric Evaluation of Disability Inventory (PEDI), measurement of active and passive range of motion in joints at upper extremity and spasticity. Evaluation of model activities was also included. Comparison of initial and control assessment showed an improvement in all measured score. 6 participants had better score in PEDI. For most participants was the range of active and passive motion increase. The degree of spasticity remained unchanged, but the spasticity angle improved. This study confirms that Pro-active approach has a positive effect on functional capabilities of...

This diploma thesis deals with the care of a child with combined handicaps in the family. I investigated how the lifestyle of a family caring for a child with combined handicaps is affected. A sub-task was to explore this issue in a family caring for a child with combined handicaps who is a client of a nongovernmental non-profit facility, the centre ARPIDA, o.s., in České Budějovice. I used qualitative research methods in my diploma thesis. The chosen technique was a semi standardized interview with the parents and siblings of children with combined handicaps in care at the centre ARPIDA, o.s. A content analysis of data from individual client documentation from the centre ARPIDA, o.s., was used as a complementary technique. Based on these materials, I created five case studies of clients with combined handicaps. The theoretical part describes the important concepts and situations that are related to this issue. Particular attention then focuses on individual means of a comprehensive rehabilitation system which offer a comprehensive interdisciplinary care to families caring for a child with disabilities. In the practical part, I analyse the interviews carried out with the parents of children with combined handicaps. In particular, I examined their views of the changes that they arose in connection with the birth and care of a child with disabilities. I also had interviews with the healthy siblings of the children with disabilities. Thanks to these interviews, I gained interesting insights on this issue from the perspective of other family members. In conclusion, I state that the lifestyle of the parents and siblings of a child with combined handicaps is significantly affected by the birth of a disabled child. The parents often lose the opportunity to follow their professional careers and there is sometimes a negative impact on their health. They feel insufficiently appreciated by the state for their burdensome care for a child with combined handicaps. Due to this fact, healthy siblings become more mature and more sensitive individuals who are aware of critical life values. Based on the research part of my thesis, I defined three hypotheses in the end. Hypothesis 1: The parents are adversely affected in their health due to long care for a child with combined handicaps. Hypothesis 2: The most important quality in the care of a child with disabilities is patience. Hypothesis 3: Nongovernmental non-profit organizations are an important source of assistance to families with a child with disabilities in its natural environment. The diploma thesis should highlight the importance and unsubstitutability of families caring for a child with combined handicaps. This thesis may serve to professionals and students focusing on this issue, but also the parents of children with combined handicaps as their feedback.

The thesis deals with chances and difficulties, which a family bringing up a child with polio has to cope with. In the theoretical part a child with a polio is characterized, the influence of the birth and upbringing of a child with polio on the life of its siblings and parents is described. Next, the cooperation with experts, organizations and institutions is considered as well as help from the society in the form of special advantages and social benefits. In the practical part the experience, opinions and feelings of parents bringing up a child with polio are presented on the base of a performed research. The main objective of the research was to find out how the birth and upbringing of a child with polio influences the family life, which difficulties and chances in various forms the parents met with and what is their opinion of them.

Title: Neuro Biomechanical principles in robot-assisted gait training for pediatric patients Background: There is a lack of data on how robot-assisted gait training (RAGT) contributes to gait changes in children with cerebral palsy (CP). Methods: This research study investigated efficacy of a 4-week RAGT intervention in twelve ambulatory spastic diparesis children with CP (10.8±2.6 years old; 2 girls and 10 boys; Gross Motor Function Classification System I-III) by using computerized gait analysis (CGA); passive joint range of motion (PROM); selective control assessment of lower limbs evaluation (SCALE), and the six-minute walk test (6MWT). Pre-post RAGT intervention data of children with CP was compared with the normative data curves of typically developing children by cross-correlation, and further statistically evaluated by a Wilcoxon test. Results: Significant pre-post RAGT intervention differences (p<0.05) that indicate more physiological gait comparing to the normative data curves were found. Biceps femoris, rectus femoris, and tibialis anterior decreased activity almost across all gait cycle phases. Medial gastrocnemius decreased activity mainly in terminal stance, mid-swing, and terminal swing phases. Internal hip rotations and foot progress angles decreased almost across all gait cycle...

Project Magnetotherapeutic device for Child Neurology in his forepart paies medical use of Pulsatile Magnetic Field. Summaries a therapeutic effects of field which is interacting with biotic issue and determines which of those effects are acceptable for treatment of Infantile Paralysis. Below it describes single Bio-Parametres of Pulsatile Magnetic Field and analyses reasons and effects of Infantile Paralysis. In second part is described a block diagram of magnetotherapeutic device for treatment of Infantile Paralysis. Described is principle of function of blocks. In third part is defined circuit solving of controlling, supervisory and generating part of magnetotherapeutic device. Function and wiring of components is described in detail. There is also created a Printed Circuit Board. Device is controlled by three microcontrollers, therefore there are described flowcharts and controlling programs for microcontrollers.

Title: The effect of progressive static stretching on treatment of spastic paraparesis in patients with cerebral palsy Objectives: The goal of this dissertation is to evaluate the effect of progressive static stretching on treatment of spastic paraparesis in patients with paraparetic form of cerebral palsy (CP). Elements chosen for the treatment were those of the therapeutic concept Guided Self-rehabilitation Contract by French professor Jean-Michel Gracies, which is presented in detail in the theoretical part of the dissertation. Methodology: This dissertation has a theoretical-empirical character. First theoretical part of the dissertation is in a form of a research on the topic of spasticity and diagnosis and treatment of spastic paresis according to the concept of J.-M. Gracies. Second experimental part of the dissertation evaluating the effect of the selected treatment for spastic paresis in people with cerebral palsy, has a form of pilot qualitative research, which was attended by 6 participants. At the beginning of the research each participant has undergone an entrance examination that evaluated spasticity using at first an unique assessing protocol Five step clinical assessment and consequently a surface electromyography. Based on this examination, each participant was instructed to follow...

Title: Measurement of lower extremities spasticity in patients with cerebral palsy Objectives: The aim of the theoretical part of this thesis is to evaluate possibilities of lower extremities spasticity measurement in adult patients with cerebral palsy. The main focus was given to the concept of French professor J.-M. Gracies: Five-step clinical assessment in spastic paresis. This unique concept presents differentiation of three main factors of motor impairment that emerge as a result of a lesion to central motor pathways: stretch sensitive paresis, soft tissue contracture and muscle overactivity. Ability to distinguish these factors is crucial for specific treatment indication. Finding a correlation between the Five-step clinical assessment in spastic paresis and muscle activity in gait measured with sEMG was the main objective in the practical part of the thesis. Methodology: This thesis has a theoretical-empirical character. The theoretical part is in a form of a research on the topic of spasticity diagnosis, focused on cerebral palsy patients. The empirical part of the thesis has a form of pilot quantitative research, which was attended by 6 participants with cerebral palsy (4 men and 2 women; average age 29 years). There were 2 independent measurement made for each of them. Each measurement...

Master's thesis called Spiritual needs in people with cerebral palsy and their saturation in social care focuses on expressing spirituality in people with cerebral palsy (CP) and studies what the spiritual needs may be and if personal care assistants (PCAs) can help to fulfil clients' spiritual needs. The theoretical part shows the issues of CP and the view to people with this disability, with the emphasis to the options of their participation for life in society. It deals with the topic of spirituality and spiritual dimension as one of many dimensions of human personality. After presenting several important theories of needs it continuous with the role of PCAs and their role in fulfilling the clients' spiritual needs. The practical part proceeds from the combination of quantitative and qualitative research; from a questionnaire inquiring the expressiveness of the spirituality and its sharing with PCAs, and interviews seven people with CP inquiring their spiritual needs and possibilities of their fulfilling by PCAs. The results show concrete and stronger spirituality expressing in people with CP than in major population and that the spiritual needs come out from their live situation. Besides spiritual needs and forces that allow them to fulfil their needs on their own. The PCAs are also a rich...

The diploma thesis - "Psychosocial Aspects of Changes in Human Mobility," focuses on family and siblings of people with physical disabilities, as well as on finding the appropriate support for these families in their specific situation. It particularly deals with people suffering cerebral palsy and spina bifida and possibilities to support the families with disabled individuals in the Czech Republic. The thesis is based on theoretical knowledge gained from publications and laws, hands-on experience acquired in service as a personal care assistant, as well as own research project on siblings of people with physical disabilities. In the first part of the thesis, the author gives basic information about classifications, diagnostics and manifestations of cerebral palsy and spina bifida with major influence of the change in human mobility. In addition, the thesis focuses on the relationship of both parents and siblings, to the handicapped child. The next part is devoted to a research project called "Life with a Sibling with Physical Disability". The research project deals with the direct experience of siblings of people with physical disabilities, critical moments in their lives, resources of coping with this difficult life situation, but also looks at benefits for their personal growth. The aim of...