Gaze Behaviour & Head Stability During Obstacle Crossing and Turning
Research type
Research Study
Full title
The head stabilisation and visual gaze strategies of children with cerebral palsy during an obstacle crossing and turning task.
IRAS ID
271142
Contact name
Richard Foster
Contact email
Sponsor organisation
Liverpool John Moores University
Duration of Study in the UK
0 years, 8 months, 25 days
Research summary
Cerebral Palsy (CP) affects the development of movement and posture (Rosenbaum, Dev Med Child Neurol, 2007). Head instability, where the sensory organs of the visual and vestibular system are located, may make it difficult for children with CP to perform activities of daily living (ADL). Previous reports suggest excessive head movements in tasks such as the sit-to-stand transition (Dan, Brain Dev, 2000), walking (Heyrman, Gait Posture, 2013; Holt, Phys Ther, 1999) and turning (Wallard, Ann Phys Rehabil, 2012). Children with CP may therefore rely on strategies such as locking the head to the trunk segment to maintain control during challenging postural tasks (Bartonek, 2019, J Motor Behav, 2019; Mills, Exp Brain Res, 2013). Although our recent LJMU-Alder Hey Orthopaedic research group project found increased head instability in children with CP during a challenging floor-based stepping task, contrary to previous findings the children used a variable and individualised stabilisation strategy (Bailey, Gait Posture, 2019).
Vision is used in a feed-forward manner during locomotion in order to scan the travel path ahead (Patla, Exp Brain Res, 2003). Visual impairments have been found in 60-70% of children with CP (Fazzi, Dev Med Child Neurol, 2012) possibly increasing the importance of refined head stability in order to provide accurate visual information. Considering the location of the visual system it is hypothesised that a stable head should benefit this visual information processing.
This study aims to investigate the relationship between the stability of the head and any stabilisation strategy employed whilst completing activities of increasing complexity (obstacle crossing and a 90 degree turn). Outcome measures will focus on control of changes in head position, and where and when they look (gaze behaviour) during the task.REC name
Yorkshire & The Humber - Sheffield Research Ethics Committee
REC reference
19/YH/0384
Date of REC Opinion
3 Dec 2019
REC opinion
Further Information Favourable Opinion