[Model studies of muscle postural control in children with spastic hemiparesis: pathophysiologic and clinical...

By means of a biocybernetic method the transfer behaviour of postural motor control system was characterized in children with spastic hemiparesis and matched healthy subjects. There were significant differences between the initial reactions of the postural motor systems of both examination groups to pseudorandom torque sequences (fig. 3, tab. 1). Considering these results we created a postural motor control model for both examinations groups (model see fig. 2). From this model it is possible to estimate separately the biomechanical effect of augmented segmental reflex activity and muscle-inherent dysfunctions in patients with spastic syndrome (fig. 4). The determination of these disturbed functions enables us to give instructions on a focused treatment of spastic syndrome according to the dominant dysfunction quantified.