Most people have likely heard about motion analysis in terms of elite sports athletes. At Phoenix Children’s Hospital it’s used to help neurologically impaired patients with, for example, cerebral palsy or spinal cord injuries. Sports injuries, while a big part of Phoenix Children’s generally, amount to about 40% of the lab’s work.
When we stopped by the motion lab we caught Crystal Conyers in mid-measure for a young ACL (anterior cruciate ligament) patient, Gina Botticelli.
Conyers, who has been at Phoenix Children’s for seven years, is a doctor of physical therapy. She is a graduate of the Arizona School of the Health Sciences and has a primary interest in inpatient neurological rehabilitation.
When we first saw Conyers, she was collecting a series of range of motion measurements and leg length. We asked, “Why leg length?” “The leg length test is used for our balance test—it’s called the y-balance test—and the data we get is compared to leg length.”
Then Conyers picked up a hand-held device and pushed down as hard as she could against Gina’s raised leg. “In this test, I’m using a hand-held dynameter to measure Gina’s muscle strength.”
While we were there Gina’s mother stopped by to see how everything was going. As we learned during our visit at Phoenix Children’s parents are an integral part of every child’s care. Gina’s mom and dad were in the waiting room and they came by every once in a while to see what was going on.
After Conyers finished with the flexion, rotation and other measurements, then it was into the motion lab and the high-tech part of the visit.
Conyers placed a few dozen special, reflecting markers on Gina. The motion lab has special cameras everywhere. As Gina moves, the cameras record her motion and computers analyze the data. Dr. Conyers and Gina’s primary physician will use this amazing information about her ACL recovery and rehab program to really customize Gina’s program.
One of the difficult parts of the process is making sure the markers don’t roll up or slip sideways as Gina moves.
Of course, Dad popped in to say hello.
Once all the sensors were in place, Conyers took a final photograph to record their placement and it was on to the computer.
