No abstract

A group of 4- and 5-yr.-old children were asked the meaning of the word "handicapped," while another group were asked the meaning of a nonsense word. Five of 15 children claimed to know the meaning of "handicapped" but none could supply a factual definition. Two of 15 children in the comparison group claimed to know the meaning of the nonsense word. Despite their lack of knowledge, children in both groups continued to answer questions regarding their attitudes toward the word. The results cast doubt on the effective use of verbal measures of attitudes toward persons with disabilities when the subjects are preschool children.

The Ponseti method is a widely accepted and highly successful conservative treatment of pediatric clubfoot that relies on weekly manipulations and cast applications. However, the material behavior of the cast in the Ponseti technique has not been investigated. The current study sought to characterize the ability of two standard casting materials to maintain the Ponseti corrected foot position by evaluating creep response. A dynamic cast testing device (DCTD) was built to simulate a typical pediatric clubfoot. Semi-rigid fiberglass and rigid fiberglass casting materials were applied to the device, and the rotational creep was measured at various constant torques. The movement was measured using a 3D motion capture system. A 2-way ANOVA was performed on the creep displacement data at a significance level of 0.05. Among cast materials, the rotational creep displacement was found to be significantly different (p-values ≪ 0.001). The most creep displacement occurs in the semi-rigid fiberglass (approximately 1.0 degrees), then the rigid fiberglass (approximately 0.4 degrees). There was no effect of torque magnitude on the creep displacement. All materials maintained the corrected position with minimal change in position over time.

The Ponseti method is a widely accepted and highly successful conservative treatment of pediatric clubfoot involving weekly manipulations and cast applications. Qualitative assessments have indicated the potential success of the technique with cast materials other than standard plaster of Paris. However, guidelines for clubfoot correction based on the mechanical response of these materials have yet to be investigated. The current study sought to characterize and compare the ability of three standard cast materials to maintain the Ponseti corrected foot position by evaluating cast creep response. A dynamic cast testing device, built to model clubfoot correction, was wrapped in plaster-of-Paris, semi-rigid fiberglass, and rigid fiberglass. Three-dimensional motion responses to two joint stiffnesses were recorded. Rotational creep displacement and linearity of the limb-cast composite were analyzed. Minimal change in position over time was found for all materials. Among cast materials, the rotational creep displacement was significantly different (p < 0.0001). The most creep displacement occurred in the plaster-of-Paris (2.0 degrees), then the semi-rigid fiberglass (1.0 degrees), and then the rigid fiberglass (0.4 degrees). Torque magnitude did not affect creep displacement response. Analysis of normalized rotation showed quasi—linear viscoelastic behavior. This study provided a mechanical evaluation of cast material performance as used for clubfoot correction. Creep displacement dependence on cast material and insensitivity to torque were discovered. This information may provide a quantitative and mechanical basis for future innovations for clubfoot care.

Falls during stair descent are common and can result in serious injury or even death. Many falls during stair descent are attributed to interactions with imperfections or defects in the stair construction, particularly, defects in the stair treads or nosing. While prior research has examined the placement of the foot related to the stair nosing during normal ambulation, limited research has examined the force distribution underneath the foot as it makes contact with the stair tread throughout the duration of the stride. An understanding of the location of the foot relative to the nosing and the force distribution underneath the foot is essential to evaluate the effect of stair imperfections during stair descent. As part of a larger laboratory study, the aim of this research was to determine the effect of markings placed on stair treads that represent pressure sensors, on descent speed, and on foot placement relative to the stair nosing. Ten healthy individuals descended a wooden staircase with and without markings placed on two stair treads while motion data of the feet were collected. Results showed that the presence of markings on the stair treads did not alter descent speed or foot placement relative to the tread nosing. Findings suggest that the presence of pressure sensors and other similar markings on stair treads do not alter descent speed or foot placement relative to the stair nosing.