The Integration of Macroscopic and Microscopic Muscle Properties With Cell Modelling to Feature Altered Neuromuscular Behavior in Cerebral Palsy: 3D-Macroscopic Muscle Architecture in Cerebral Palsy
A mixed longitudinal design study will be carried out to explore the onset and time course of morphological muscle changes on a macroscopic level in children with spastic cerebral palsy (SCP). Therefore, this project aims to (1) describe the macroscopic morphological muscle changes with increasing age and (2) evaluate the onset and development of muscle alterations in relation to the brain lesion (e.g., timing, extent and location), to the neuromuscular impairments and to treatment. Overall, this project will evaluate the macroscopic muscle properties by means of 3D freehand ultrasound (3DfUS).
• Confirmed diagnosis of spastic cerebral palsy or patients at high-risk for spastic cerebral palsy
• Suspected GMFCS levels I-III (GMFCS = Gross Motor Function Classification Scale, expressing the overall functional level of impairment)