Rehabilitation ergonomics: Designing a therapeutic equipment for Cerebral palsy

Therapeutic equipment is an important part of the support system for many children with identified disabilities especially children with cerebral palsy (CP). Children having limited control of head, trunk, or extremities, needs support to sit or stand, needs adaptations in order to use technology. We know that repetitive and multisensory stimulation is very important part of rehabilitation program of CP children. On the other hand, therapeutic equipment can provide effective sensory-motor stimulation. When designing health care, rehabilitative, and assistive equipment, the perspective of the user population, the system in which the equipment will be used, and the tasks to be performed all must be considered. Therefore, the concept of user-centered design using an ergonomics based system approach is very important for designing therapeutic equipment. Human error can result when user-centered design is not implemented. The aim of this study was to design and development of special therapeutic equipment which is called as a vestibulator for CP children. Sixty-seven CP from two different states of India (Children Orthopedic Hospital, Mumbai, and National Institute of Rehabilitation Training and Research, Orissa) were included in this study. 42 were male and 25 female of age range 12-72 months with mean age 47 months. The design of equipment required attention to anthropometric survey for the intended consumer. Hence, thirty two different body dimensions, essential for designing a vestibulator, were identified. In addition, neurodevelopment data were needed to make the better designed vestibulator for CP. Results of this study showed that attention must be given to develop a functionally ideal product which will be convenient to train a child by acquiring different posture and position based on normal motor development, appropriate support in each position, as well as activating of all vestibular system receptors acting with linear, tilting, spinning and ascending, descending. Convenient different positions were developed based on Anthropometric data. With help of this vestibulator, therapist is able to manage the child during vestibular therapy easily. Care was taken so the parents can also be able to use it under consultation of therapist.