New technology advances cerebral palsy treatment

Just two years following a diagnosis of cerebral palsy at Seattle Childrens Hospital, Cody Marmon took his first independent steps. He was 3 years, one month and one day old.

It was really exciting to watch, said Tina Marmon, Codys mother.

Dr. David G. Embrey, the research program coordinator at MultiCare Good Samaritan Childrens Therapy Unit, witnessed Codys first steps along with Tina. About the same time, Embrey monitored Codys muscle movements and compared them with his brothers muscle movements, utilizing an innovative technology called Surface Electroymyography (SEMG).

The technology, designed and manufactured by Noraxon, gives doctors an ability to place sensors on the top of the skin and record electrical signals from the brain that fire to make muscles move.

The first time I went inside the body of a child with SEMG, I was absolutely astonished, Embrey said. The body was not functioning at all like my eyes were telling me. Ive now been able to take the technology and change what I do in treatment to become more effective.

Embrey and his colleagues at Good Samaritan Childrens Therapy Unit recently were featured in Health Heroes on The Discovery Channel. The documentary explained how Embrey used SEMG to guide Codys treatment.

Over time, we used SEMG to change the way Codys muscles work during functional skills like standing, walking, running and riding his tricycle, Embrey said. SEMG enabled us to see Codys muscles contract during functional movements and select the best treatment to help him move better.

Cody practiced his functional skills like riding a tricycle and learned reciprocal contraction for his legs, he added. We used SEMG to determine the best application of Botox to minimize the spasticity in his leg muscles.

Embrey said Cody received Botox, first for his calf muscles for six months, then for his hamstrings for the second six months.

With less spasticity in the calf and hamstring muscles, we changed Codys braces to allow movement at his ankles, the doctor said.

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New technology advances cerebral palsy treatment