Improving Spasticity Treatment
(2020-2021)
Spasticity is the involuntary contraction or tightening of a muscle due to existing neurologic conditions (ex. Cerebral Palsy, Multiple Sclerosis) or trauma (stroke, traumatic brain injury, spinal cord injury). Spasticity can involve part of a muscle, the whole muscle, multiple adjacent muscles. The populations that are most affected by spasticity are those that have experienced any kind of nerve damage that affects sensorimotor skills. Some characteristics of spasticity are contracture — muscles get shorter as a result of being kept tight for an extended period of time — and clonus — uncontrollable rhythmic contractions and relaxations in the muscles that lead to jerking. Currently, we are looking into the way spasticity affects these different populations in terms of their daily physical abilities and general movement functionality in the human body. Additionally, we have examined the different treatments that have historically been implemented to combat spasticity, such as physical and occupational therapy, splinting and casting, electrical stimulation, and surgery.
Based on our research we have found that there is room for improvement regarding the long-term benefits for spasticity treatment in a way that continues to reduce pain while being affordable and ensures compliance from the patient in and out of the clinic. We are currently researching the need area to improve our understanding of the experience of patients, the challenges they face and what treatment options are most successful in improving function to identify possibly directions for innovation. We are also still developing a network of experience through reaching out to clinicians, therapists and researchers who can validate our understanding of the issue and connect us to other resources. Our hope is to gain enough understanding of the gaps in treatment of spasticity be able to start prototyping and benchtop testing in the Spring 2020 semester.
Based on our research we have found that there is room for improvement regarding the long-term benefits for spasticity treatment in a way that continues to reduce pain while being affordable and ensures compliance from the patient in and out of the clinic. We are currently researching the need area to improve our understanding of the experience of patients, the challenges they face and what treatment options are most successful in improving function to identify possibly directions for innovation. We are also still developing a network of experience through reaching out to clinicians, therapists and researchers who can validate our understanding of the issue and connect us to other resources. Our hope is to gain enough understanding of the gaps in treatment of spasticity be able to start prototyping and benchtop testing in the Spring 2020 semester.
Team Member Bios:
Andrew Yock is a senior biomedical engineering major with an electrical emphasis, and is starting his masters in medical device and diagnostic engineering. Andrew is the president of MEDesign, and is in the search for a PHD program in electrical or biomedical engineering. He hopes to pursue a career in medical device research and development and/or as an engineering educator.
Kristian Vu Bostic is a sophomore biomedical engineering major with an electrical emphasis. He plans to pursue a Master’s degree in biomedical engineering, and wants to eventually have a career in medical diagnostic device research and development.
Sam is a junior biomedical engineering major with a mechanical emphasis and hopes to go into product development in biomedical industry.
Alana McGuinness is a junior majoring in biomedical engineering with an electrical emphasis, and plans to take part in the progressive degree program at USC for biomedical engineering. In the future she wants to have a career regarding medical device research and development.
Pratik Thakur is a sophomore biological sciences major. In the future, he plans to enter the medical field and improve health policy/treatment of undeserved populations
Kristian Vu Bostic is a sophomore biomedical engineering major with an electrical emphasis. He plans to pursue a Master’s degree in biomedical engineering, and wants to eventually have a career in medical diagnostic device research and development.
Sam is a junior biomedical engineering major with a mechanical emphasis and hopes to go into product development in biomedical industry.
Alana McGuinness is a junior majoring in biomedical engineering with an electrical emphasis, and plans to take part in the progressive degree program at USC for biomedical engineering. In the future she wants to have a career regarding medical device research and development.
Pratik Thakur is a sophomore biological sciences major. In the future, he plans to enter the medical field and improve health policy/treatment of undeserved populations