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Development of an anti-crouch, dynamic leg brace

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Project Overview

Children with spastic diplegia cerebral palsy commonly have a crouched stance and gait due to a forward shift of the center of mass coupled with shortened, taut, weak muscles and muscle spasticity. Currently commercially available braces and ankle foot orthotics used to improve crouch gait are either rigid at the ankle or articulated to allow dorsiflexion and plantarflexion of the ankle. Rigid braces inhibit the development of a more normal walking gait, and articulated braces often allow for excessive flexion, especially during high stress or fatigue. The proposed brace design will include variable resistance to dorsi/plantar flexion to allow for high stability in times of fatigue and less resistance during therapeutic gait training, providing eccentric muscle strengthening and more normal gait kinematics throughout the lower limb.

Team Picture

Left: Nathan Leppert, Aaron Bishop, Alex Ehlers, Josh Bensen, David Piotrowski
Left: Nathan Leppert, Aaron Bishop, Alex Ehlers, Josh Bensen, David Piotrowski

Contact Information

Team Members

  • Aaron Bishop - Team Leader
  • Alex Ehlers - Communicator
  • Joshua Bensen - BSAC
  • Nathan Leppert - BWIG
  • David Piotrowski - BPAG

Advisor and Client

  • Dr. Tom Yen - Advisor
  • Donita Croft - Client
  • Wendy Stewart - Alternate Contact

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