Engineering class make cycles for children with CP

01-15-2008

Five-year-old Ethan Edmonson raised his hands over his head and grinned.

He is one of several children served by United Cerebral Palsy of West Alabama who has ridden a cycle made by Steve Shepard's Mechanical Engineering Design I class, and the memory of riding the vehicle still brings a flush of excitement to his face.

The cycles are not the bicycles ridden by most children.

"Many times, individuals with CP have abnormal muscle movement and tone, and would be unable to isolate muscle groups to do something like ride a bike," said Paula Peacock, special projects coordinator for UCP.

Cerebral palsy is a disease of the motor control centers of the brain with no known cure.

The cycles created by the engineering students have three or four wheels, and instead of using two small pedals in a circular motion, the rider puts his feet on a large pedal in front of him and uses his legs to push forward. All of the cycles also have a handle on the back for an adult to use to help steer.

There are similar cycles on the market retailing for thousands of dollars. The students could not exceed $1,000 in making the cycles.

Jacque Smith-Edwards, the coordinator of Children Adult Respite Education, an after-school program at UCP, recalls being impressed by a presentation about the more expensive cycles at a conference not long ago.

"I think it's a wonderful idea to have something that a child with multiple disabilities would be able to operate with assistance," Smith-Edwards said.

"When I compared those to what the students did for us, I was blown away," she said.

She said the children also enjoyed them.

"They didn't want to get off the bikes," she said.

"All of them will be able to use them, which is exciting," she said. "We just have some that will require more assistance."

The students manufactured the cycles to meet the individual needs of children in the CARE program. They met with their young clients and their parents to gain an understanding of the children's mobility range and to address concerns of safety.

Keith Lange's nine-year-old son, Zachary, was one of the children for whom the cycles were made.

"He watches all the kids running around him, and he wants to be like them, and when he can't, he gets frustrated," Lange said.

Lange said the physical challenge of moving himself forward coupled with the opportunity to control the motions is beneficial to his son.

"As far as building muscles and motivation, they're great," he said of the cycles. "I just have to work with him. Once he gets the motion in mind, he can go."

Charlotte New said she was surprised when she learned what the class was doing for the children.

Her 13-year-old daughter, Carrie, has mitochondrial disease, which she said presents challenges similar to CP.

"I think she's happy just being her, but she likes being more involved now and being around other kids," New said.

New said she is happy her daughter can have the experience of riding a cycle, but she sees more to the cycles than recreation.

"Strengthening. The more you use your muscles, the more you're able to do," she said. "When the weather's good, I do want to see her riding them."

UCP Executive Director Toni Franklin said the cycles could be used for physical therapy.

While some of the bikes might be more difficult for some children, Franklin and Smith-Edwards said the difficulties they present are not insurmountable and can positively affect the young riders.

 "I see a lot of benefits, even for the children who can't use them alone, in improving motor skills," she said. "I think they're fabulous." 

"I really believe that one of the uses will be to increase and maintain range of motion. I see them being very helpful in physical therapy and occupational therapy in addition to the recreation aspect," Peacock said.

A third benefit of the cycles is perhaps the most precious of all to both parents and children.

"Independence," Lange said. "I want him to be independent. Of course, battle scars happen."

Four of the cycles have taken up residence indefinitely at UCP in Northport, and will be moved outside to an adjacent playground in warmer months.

Anderson Renaud, a senior majoring in mechanical engineering, said the work he did reached far beyond the classroom.

"[Working with the children] was the most rewarding part of it," Renaud said. "We were doing something that wasn't just a project - it had actual benefit."

Grant Pace, a senior majoring in mechanical engineering, shared similar sentiments.

"It was really exciting to see the smiles come across their faces," Pace said, referring to the day they tested out their products at UCP. "It's a really good feeling."

Source: http://media.www.cw.ua.edu/media/storage/paper959/news/2008/01/14/Infocus/Mechanics.Of.A.Smile-3150613.shtml

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