Publications by authors named "Inti Vanmechelen"

Purpose: To explore the concurrent validity and responsiveness of the Wheelchair Skills Test-Questionnaire (WST-Q) caregiver proxy, and the inter- and intra-rater reliability of the Wheelchair Skills Test (WST) in children and young adults with cerebral palsy (CP).

Methods: Concurrent validity and responsiveness of the WST-Q caregiver proxy were assessed in 12 participants with CP (mean age 15 years; SD: 3 years 6 months); power wheelchair users. Concurrent validity of the WST-Q was determined using Pearson's correlation coefficients, and responsiveness with linear regression.

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This study aimed to evaluate clinical utility of 2D-markerless motion analysis (2DMMA) from a single camera during a reaching-sideways-task in individuals with dyskinetic cerebral palsy (DCP) by determining (1) concurrent validity by correlating 2DMMA against marker-based 3D-motion analysis (3DMA) and (2) construct validity by assessing differences in 2DMMA features between DCP and typically developing (TD) peers. 2DMMA key points were tracked from frontal videos of a single camera by DeepLabCut and accuracy was assessed against human labelling. Shoulder, elbow and wrist angles were calculated from 2DMMA and 3DMA (as gold standard) and correlated to assess concurrent validity.

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Background: Movement disorders in children and adolescents with dyskinetic cerebral palsy (CP) are commonly assessed from video recordings, however scoring is time-consuming and expert knowledge is required for an appropriate assessment.

Objective: To explore a machine learning approach for automated classification of amplitude and duration of distal leg dystonia and choreoathetosis within short video sequences.

Methods: Available videos of a heel-toe tapping task were preprocessed to optimize key point extraction using markerless motion analysis.

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Introduction: Impaired upper limb movements are a key feature in dyskinetic cerebral palsy (CP). However, information on how specific movement patterns relate to manual ability, performance and underlying movement disorders is lacking. Insight in these associations may contribute to targeted upper limb management in dyskinetic CP.

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Background: Dyskinetic cerebral palsy (DCP) is clinically characterized by involuntary movements and abnormal postures, which can aggravate with activity. While upper limb movement variability is often detected in the clinical picture, it remains unknown how movement patterns of individuals with DCP differ from typically developing (TD) peers.

Research Question: Do individuals with DCP show i) higher time-dependent standard deviations of upper limb joint angles and ii) altered upper limb kinematics in time and/or amplitude during functional upper limb tasks in comparison with TD individuals?

Methods: Three-dimensional upper limb movement patterns were cross-sectionally compared in 50 individuals with and without DCP during three functional tasks: reach forward (RF), reach and grasp vertical (RGV) and reach sideways (RS).

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-Movement patterns in dyskinetic cerebral palsy (DCP) are characterized by abnormal postures and involuntary movements. Current evaluation tools in DCP are subjective and time-consuming. Sensors could yield objective information on pathological patterns in DCP, but their reliability has not yet been evaluated.

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Studies aiming to objectively quantify movement disorders during upper limb tasks using wearable sensors have recently increased, but there is a wide variety in described measurement and analyzing methods, hampering standardization of methods in research and clinics. Therefore, the primary objective of this review was to provide an overview of sensor set-up and type, included tasks, sensor features and methods used to quantify movement disorders during upper limb tasks in multiple pathological populations. The secondary objective was to identify the most sensitive sensor features for the detection and quantification of movement disorders on the one hand and to describe the clinical application of the proposed methods on the other hand.

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Background: Trunk control and upper limb function are often disturbed in people with dyskinetic cerebral palsy. While trunk control is fundamental in upper limb activities, insights in trunk control in dyskinetic cerebral palsy are missing. This study aimed to determine trunk movement characteristics in individuals with dyskinetic cerebral palsy during reaching.

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Article Synopsis
  • The aim of the study was to develop a shorter, user-friendly version of the Dyskinesia Impairment Scale (DIS-II) for assessing dystonia and choreoathetosis, while evaluating its validity and reliability.
  • The DIS-II evaluates these conditions in 11 body regions with fewer videos needed (14 instead of 26) and a reduced number of scoring items (88 instead of 144), while maintaining good construct validity and distinguishing between eight ability levels.
  • Overall, the DIS-II improves upon the original scale by providing valid and reliable measures with simpler scoring and better comparison capabilities for clinical practice and research.
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Dyskinetic cerebral palsy (DCP) is characterised by involuntary movements, and the movement patterns of children with DCP have not been extensively studied during upper limb tasks. The aim of this study is to evaluate psychometric properties of upper limb kinematics in participants with DCP and typically developing (TD) participants. In current repeatability and validity study, forty individuals with typical development (n = 20) and DCP (n = 20) performed a reach forward/sideways and a reach and grasp task during motion analysis on two occasions.

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: To map the presence, severity, and distribution of spasticity and passive range of motion (pROM) deviations in dyskinetic cerebral palsy (DCP), and to explore their relation with dystonia, choreoathetosis, and functional abilities.: This cross-sectional study included 53 participants with DCP. Spasticity was assessed with the Modified Ashworth Scale, limited- and increased pROM (hypermobility) with a goniometer, dystonia and choreoathetosis with the Dyskinesia Impairment Scale, gross motor and manual abilities with corresponding functional classification systems.

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Article Synopsis
  • The Dyskinesia Impairment Scale (DIS) was developed to assess dystonia and choreoathetosis specifically in children and youth with dyskinetic cerebral palsy, unlike the existing Burke-Fahn-Marsden Dystonia Rating Scale (BFM) that's mainly used for inherited dystonia.
  • The study evaluated the reliability and validity of the DIS through various statistical methods, showing high inter-rater and test-retest reliability with notable correlation to the BFM scale.
  • Results indicated that the DIS is a reliable and valid tool for assessing dystonia and choreoathetosis in its target population, making it a promising option for clinical use.
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Objectives: To investigate the operational competences screen navigation and dwell function underlying eye gaze performance, and the relation of dystonia and choreoathetosis with eye gaze performance in children with dyskinetic cerebral palsy (DCP).

Methods: During a 5-week intervention, ten participants with DCP played eye gaze video games daily for 30 minutes. Six games were used to assess task performance, fixation count, and eye movement accuracy during four measurements.

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Aim: To assess test-retest reliability of the Dyskinesia Impairment Scale (DIS) in children and young adults with dyskinetic cerebral palsy (CP).

Method: Dystonia and choreoathetosis were assessed in 15 participants with dyskinetic CP (13 males, 2 females; age range 5-22y, mean 14y, SD 4y) using the DIS in two separate sessions over 7 days. Exclusion criteria were changes in muscle relaxant medication within the previous 3 months, orthopaedic or neurosurgical interventions within the previous year, and spinal fusion.

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This cross-sectional study aims to investigate the presence and severity of overflow movements of dystonia and choreoathetosis in dyskinetic cerebral palsy (CP) and to assess the relationship of overflow movements with functional classification scales. Fifty-two subjects with dyskinetic CP were included. Presence and severity of dystonia and choreoathetosis overflow movements were assessed with the Dyskinesia Impairment Scale.

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Background: Deficits in muscle volume may be a significant contributor to physical disability in young people with cerebral palsy. However, 3D measurements of muscle volume using MRI or 3D ultrasound may be difficult to make routinely in the clinic. We wished to establish whether accurate estimates of muscle volume could be made from a combination of anatomical cross-sectional area and length measurements in samples of typically developing young people and young people with bilateral cerebral palsy.

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