The Beacon 2019 | Issue 2 the beacon 2.2019 | Page 6

UNIVERSITY OF TULSA
HEAD POD
STUDY
Therapy team members, Jamey Fox, PT, Lynda Crouch, ATP/CLVT, and Julie Wilson,
PT, continue to collaborate with Dr. Joshua Schultz and Bradford Kerst, a graduate
student, from the University of Tulsa to study effects on the Head Pod in developing
strength and control of the cervical spine with children with hypotonia with a National
Science Foundation grant. Below is an interview with Dr. Schultz and Bradford Kerst.
Julie: What sparked the idea to design a study and pursue an NSF grant using the Head Pod?
Dr. Schultz: I visited the Little Light House in the Spring of 2016 and discussed with a multidisciplinary team of therapists how the
Biological Robotics At Tulsa (BRAT) research group might be able to partner with LLH to pursue funding from the General and Age Related
Disabilities Engineering (Now Disability and Rehabilitation Engineering, or DARE) program at the NSF. This program provides funding
for scientific research that will lead to new medical devices, assistive devices, or software that benefits some person or group with a
disability. We were looking for something at the nexus of robotic motion and human biomechanics. After some discussion, we decided
that the best match of clinical need and research group expertise would be in the area of promoting head control for LLH students with
Hypotonia and decided to propose to study how robotic interventions may help.
Julie: What are you hoping to learn from this study?
Bradford Kerst: We hope to learn about several different aspects of head control throughout this study. The first step is to collect data
using the Head Pod, a static head support, to learn how the assistive device is impacting children who have hypotonia (underdeveloped
muscle tone). We hope to understand if the Head Pod is building muscle strength over time or if it has a limited benefit for the
biomechanics of head control. Using this data, we plan to develop a biomechanical model specifically for persons with hypotonia. Most
biomechanical models available now are limited to typically developing individuals, and building this model can help us create better
assistive technologies in the future. The final goal of this project is to use the data collected and biomechanical models to design and
build a rehabilitation robotic head support that will provide only as much assistance as is necessary, then compare the results from the
robotic support to the static support.
Julie: Why did you choose to partner with Little Light House?
Bradford Kerst: The University of Tulsa Mechanical Engineering department has a strong
relationship with LLH, and it has for many years. Make A Difference Engineering (MADE)
at TU has engineered several devices that have been implemented for students at LLH.
Dr. Schultz and the therapists at LLH saw an opportunity to both help the children
and make a significant scientific contribution, and they were confident enough in
the project to accept the challenge. The people at LLH are all willing to help and do
everything they can to prepare the children for living the best life they can. Together, we
have a huge opportunity to learn and to help the children who need it most.
the Beacon | 5
Pictured left to right: Bradford Kerst and Dr. Joshua Schultz