Project Overview

Spastic cerebral palsy is a condition in which muscle tone is increased from abnormalities in parts of the brain that control muscle movement. One of the most common consequences from the condition is an altercation of a patient’s physiological gait due to deep muscle reflex malfunction. One such form of this modified physiological gait is often simply referred to as ‘toe walking’ in which the calf muscles are under high tension. A non operative treatment option involves the serial casting of the affected area. This entails a molding of a series of fiberglass casts and plastics of the lower leg in a fixed position that stretches the soft tissues over an extended period of time in an attempt to modify the pertaining muscle structures with a direct environmental change and increase dorsiflexion range of motion of the foot. A significant limitation of this particular treatment is the amount of moisture the cast can endure. The tolerable moisture levels are slim to none as prolonged water contact with dermal tissue has many adverse effects. In an effort to keep the cast dry in inclement weather conditions while maintaining the ability to walk in the cast, our client Dr. Donita Croft, specializing in Pulmonary Disease, Critical Care, and Internal Medicine, requires a footwear-style-device that will keep a serial cast dry for her 7 year old daughter and those like her who suffer from the disease.

Team Picture

Contact Information

Team Members

• Christopher Beglinger - Team Leader
• Mr. Billy Greisch - Communicator & BPAG
• Hannah Frank - BSAC
• Matthew Bradfish - BWIG

Advisor and Client

• Prof. Tracy Jane Puccinelli - Advisor
• Donita Croft - Client
• Wendy Stewart - Alternate Contact

Related Projects

• Spring 2015: Water resistant cast boot
• Spring 2012: Water resistant boot for walking casts