Impact of Serial Casting on Autonomic Nervous System Responses during Virtual Reality Tasks in Children with Cerebral Palsy: A Pilot Study Comparing Orthoses and Barefoot Conditions

Cerebral palsy (CP) is a group of movement disorders that impair posture and mobility, often leading to spasticity and joint contractures. Interventions like serial casting are commonly used to improve joint mobility and manage spasticity in children with CP. However, its effects on the autonomic ne...

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Main Authors: Marisa de Paula Paro, Raísa Marques de Sousa, Juliana Perez Martinez, Amanda Orasmo Simcsik, Marina Junqueira Airoldi, Rodrigo Martins Dias, Íbis Ariana Peña de Moraes, Fernando Henrique Magalhães, Carlos Bandeira de Mello Monteiro, Talita Dias da Silva-Magalhães
Format: Article
Language:English
Published: MDPI AG 2024-09-01
Series:Brain Sciences
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Online Access:https://www.mdpi.com/2076-3425/14/10/1000
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author Marisa de Paula Paro
Raísa Marques de Sousa
Juliana Perez Martinez
Amanda Orasmo Simcsik
Marina Junqueira Airoldi
Rodrigo Martins Dias
Íbis Ariana Peña de Moraes
Fernando Henrique Magalhães
Carlos Bandeira de Mello Monteiro
Talita Dias da Silva-Magalhães
author_facet Marisa de Paula Paro
Raísa Marques de Sousa
Juliana Perez Martinez
Amanda Orasmo Simcsik
Marina Junqueira Airoldi
Rodrigo Martins Dias
Íbis Ariana Peña de Moraes
Fernando Henrique Magalhães
Carlos Bandeira de Mello Monteiro
Talita Dias da Silva-Magalhães
author_sort Marisa de Paula Paro
collection DOAJ
description Cerebral palsy (CP) is a group of movement disorders that impair posture and mobility, often leading to spasticity and joint contractures. Interventions like serial casting are commonly used to improve joint mobility and manage spasticity in children with CP. However, its effects on the autonomic nervous system (ANS) remain unclear. This study aimed to evaluate the effects of serial casting and ankle–foot orthoses (AFOs) on ANS responses during a virtual reality (VR) standing task, comparing these interventions with a barefoot condition. Thirty children with CP were randomized into three groups (<i>n</i> = 10 per group): serial casting, AFOs, and barefoot. Heart rate variability (HRV) was used to assess ANS responses across three phases: seated rest, VR task, and recovery. The results showed that the serial casting group exhibited higher sympathetic activity during rest compared to the other groups, but had a reduced sympathetic response during the VR task. Additionally, the serial casting group displayed a more pronounced parasympathetic rebound during recovery, similar to the orthoses and barefoot groups. While serial casting provides essential joint stability, it alters ANS response patterns, leading to heightened sympathetic activation at rest, without providing significant improvements in ANS behavior during physical activity.
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publisher MDPI AG
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series Brain Sciences
spelling doaj-art-a6c3f451c7fb4e76bd73eaef7ed70b652025-08-20T02:11:05ZengMDPI AGBrain Sciences2076-34252024-09-011410100010.3390/brainsci14101000Impact of Serial Casting on Autonomic Nervous System Responses during Virtual Reality Tasks in Children with Cerebral Palsy: A Pilot Study Comparing Orthoses and Barefoot ConditionsMarisa de Paula Paro0Raísa Marques de Sousa1Juliana Perez Martinez2Amanda Orasmo Simcsik3Marina Junqueira Airoldi4Rodrigo Martins Dias5Íbis Ariana Peña de Moraes6Fernando Henrique Magalhães7Carlos Bandeira de Mello Monteiro8Talita Dias da Silva-Magalhães9Graduate Program in Medicine (Cardiology), Escola Paulista de Medicina, Federal University of São Paulo (EPM/UNIFESP), São Paulo 03828-000, BrazilGraduate Program in Medicine (Cardiology), Escola Paulista de Medicina, Federal University of São Paulo (EPM/UNIFESP), São Paulo 03828-000, BrazilGraduate Program in Physical Activity Sciences, School of Arts, Science and Humanities of University of São Paulo (EACH-USP), São Paulo 03828-000, BrazilGraduate Program in Physical Activity Sciences, School of Arts, Science and Humanities of University of São Paulo (EACH-USP), São Paulo 03828-000, BrazilTherapies Centro de Reabilitação Intensiva, Campinas 13098-324, BrazilGraduate Program in Medicine (Cardiology), Escola Paulista de Medicina, Federal University of São Paulo (EPM/UNIFESP), São Paulo 03828-000, BrazilGraduate Program in Physical Activity Sciences, School of Arts, Science and Humanities of University of São Paulo (EACH-USP), São Paulo 03828-000, BrazilGraduate Program in Physical Activity Sciences, School of Arts, Science and Humanities of University of São Paulo (EACH-USP), São Paulo 03828-000, BrazilGraduate Program in Physical Activity Sciences, School of Arts, Science and Humanities of University of São Paulo (EACH-USP), São Paulo 03828-000, BrazilGraduate Program in Medicine (Cardiology), Escola Paulista de Medicina, Federal University of São Paulo (EPM/UNIFESP), São Paulo 03828-000, BrazilCerebral palsy (CP) is a group of movement disorders that impair posture and mobility, often leading to spasticity and joint contractures. Interventions like serial casting are commonly used to improve joint mobility and manage spasticity in children with CP. However, its effects on the autonomic nervous system (ANS) remain unclear. This study aimed to evaluate the effects of serial casting and ankle–foot orthoses (AFOs) on ANS responses during a virtual reality (VR) standing task, comparing these interventions with a barefoot condition. Thirty children with CP were randomized into three groups (<i>n</i> = 10 per group): serial casting, AFOs, and barefoot. Heart rate variability (HRV) was used to assess ANS responses across three phases: seated rest, VR task, and recovery. The results showed that the serial casting group exhibited higher sympathetic activity during rest compared to the other groups, but had a reduced sympathetic response during the VR task. Additionally, the serial casting group displayed a more pronounced parasympathetic rebound during recovery, similar to the orthoses and barefoot groups. While serial casting provides essential joint stability, it alters ANS response patterns, leading to heightened sympathetic activation at rest, without providing significant improvements in ANS behavior during physical activity.https://www.mdpi.com/2076-3425/14/10/1000cerebral palsyplaster castautonomic nervous systemheart ratevirtual reality
spellingShingle Marisa de Paula Paro
Raísa Marques de Sousa
Juliana Perez Martinez
Amanda Orasmo Simcsik
Marina Junqueira Airoldi
Rodrigo Martins Dias
Íbis Ariana Peña de Moraes
Fernando Henrique Magalhães
Carlos Bandeira de Mello Monteiro
Talita Dias da Silva-Magalhães
Impact of Serial Casting on Autonomic Nervous System Responses during Virtual Reality Tasks in Children with Cerebral Palsy: A Pilot Study Comparing Orthoses and Barefoot Conditions
Brain Sciences
cerebral palsy
plaster cast
autonomic nervous system
heart rate
virtual reality
title Impact of Serial Casting on Autonomic Nervous System Responses during Virtual Reality Tasks in Children with Cerebral Palsy: A Pilot Study Comparing Orthoses and Barefoot Conditions
title_full Impact of Serial Casting on Autonomic Nervous System Responses during Virtual Reality Tasks in Children with Cerebral Palsy: A Pilot Study Comparing Orthoses and Barefoot Conditions
title_fullStr Impact of Serial Casting on Autonomic Nervous System Responses during Virtual Reality Tasks in Children with Cerebral Palsy: A Pilot Study Comparing Orthoses and Barefoot Conditions
title_full_unstemmed Impact of Serial Casting on Autonomic Nervous System Responses during Virtual Reality Tasks in Children with Cerebral Palsy: A Pilot Study Comparing Orthoses and Barefoot Conditions
title_short Impact of Serial Casting on Autonomic Nervous System Responses during Virtual Reality Tasks in Children with Cerebral Palsy: A Pilot Study Comparing Orthoses and Barefoot Conditions
title_sort impact of serial casting on autonomic nervous system responses during virtual reality tasks in children with cerebral palsy a pilot study comparing orthoses and barefoot conditions
topic cerebral palsy
plaster cast
autonomic nervous system
heart rate
virtual reality
url https://www.mdpi.com/2076-3425/14/10/1000
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