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Developmental Neuromotor Control Laboratory

• Research Overview
• Current Projects
• Selected Lab Publications
• Members
• Lab Resources and Major Equipment

Dr. Beverly Ulrich

4740 Kinesiology Bldg.
401 Washtenaw Ave.
Ann Arbor, MI 48109-2214
Phone: (734) 615-1494

Research Overview

Our goal is to conduct translational science, with the theoretical work we do enabling us to build a solid base for conducting clinically relevant work and clinical intervention trials. The theoretical foundation with which we work is that of dynamic systems, also known as complex systems. The clinical populations we study have been Down syndrome and myelomeningocele. We work largely with pediatric populations but, our developmental approach leads us to design studies involving the age spectrum, from infancy, through preadolescents, and the elderly. We focus heavily on gait patterns. We use a behavioral approach, and tools of EMG, motion capture, instrumented gait mats, pediatric and adult-sized treadmills, mathematical modeling, and sensory stimulation to probe the underlying nature of developmental neuromotor control.

Current Projects

Analyzing the Development of Locomotor Activity in Infants with Myelomeningocele

The purpose of this study is to describe and analyze the development of leg control in infants born with Myelomeningocele (MMC) and with typical development (TD). We are focusing on the quality (control and coordination) and quantity of infants’ stepping movements over the first postnatal year. (More)

Effect of Enhancing Sensory Input on Motor Output in Infants with Myelomeningocele (MMC)

With this set of three studies we want to determine the effect of enhancing the sensory input available on the activation of the neuromotor system, monitored kinematically and kinetically. We are addressing the potential change in responsiveness related to age, to different forms of sensory information (visual, tactile, load), and to combinations of enhanced sensory input that may be needed to surpass their threshold of sensitivity to sensory information. (More)

Integrity of Neuromotor Responses in Infants with Myelomeningicele

Our aim with these studies is to use neurophysiologic techniques, vibration and tendon-tap stimulation, to assess the mono- and polysynaptic sensorimotor loops of gait muscles of infants with myelomeningocele (MMC). We will also test the effect of vibratory stimulation to the soles of the feet and leg muscles on the occurrence and quality of alternating stepping patterns. (More)

Effects of Environmental Perturbations on Variability and Stability of Gait Patterns in Older Adults with Down Syndrome

The combined effects of ligamentous laxity, low tone, obesity, inactivity and physiological decrements associated with aging lead to stability-enhancing adaptations during unperturbed, comfortable walking at a younger chronological age in adults with Down syndrome (DS) as compared to their peers with typical development (TD) (Smith and Ulrich, 2008). To extend our understanding of gait adaptation and stability in older adults with DS, we are using 3-D motion analysis and a safety harness to assess gait variability and falls during challenging and commonly encountered environmental perturbation conditions. At the conclusion of this study we will identify some of the environmental perception-action scenarios that present the most challenge to walking stability in adults with DS, information we believe can affect intervention practices. (More)

Production of Stiffness and Impulse during Treadmill Walking in Older Adults with Down Syndrome (DS)

We are using an escapement-driven damped inverted pendulum and spring model to estimate global stiffness and impulse values. Stiffness represents a conservation mechanism of soft tissue, the storage and return of elastic energy of muscles and tendons. Angular impulse is energy released into the system by the muscles to replace what is lost during each walking stride. This study advances our work investigating stiffness and impulse values during walking in toddlers and preadolescents with DS, now investigating the combined effects of DS and the neurophysiologic changes associated with aging on the production of stiffness and impulse during walking. (More)

Walking Strategies and Variability in New Walkers with and Without Down Syndrome

At the onset of walking, toddlers produce a wide variety of step lengths and widths. Patterns within this variability, as well as how they adjust their walking patterns to external constraints such as obstacles, can tell us about the function this variability serves as they explore their newfound skills. Toddlers with typical development and toddlers with Down syndrome walked on an instrumented gait mat and on a treadmill across months of walking experience. (More)

Effects of Constraints (Clothing and Motion-Capture Devices) on Treadmill Steps in Infants

Analysis across studies conducted in this lab has suggested that the clothing and measurement equipment babies have worn while stepping on a treadmill may reduce their leg movements compared to when they wear nothing. To examine this, we supported infants with typical development on a treadmill to observe differences in the stepping movements they made under four different conditions: 1) Wearing nothing 2) Wearing a cloth swim diaper only 3) Wearing a disposable diaper only 4) Wearing a disposable diaper, tights, muscle sensors (EMG), and reflective markers on their legs. (More)

Effects of Attention on Gait in Adults with Parkinson Disease

People with Parkinson disease (PD) often have differences in symptom severity across the sides of the body which affect their walking patterns and risk of experiencing “freezing” or “motion block”. Examining differences in symptom severity in combination with other factors that influence one side of the body more than the other could lead to ways to minimize the problems in walking patterns associated with differences in symptom severity. (More)

Selected Lab Publications

Teulier, C., Smith, B. A., Kubo, M., Chang, C. L., Moerchen, V., Muraszko, K., & Ulrich, B.D. (2009). “Stepping responses of infants with myelomeningocele when supported on a motorized treadmill.” Physical Therapy, 89(1), 60-72.

Smith, B.A., & Ulrich, B.D. (2008). “Early onset stabilizing strategies for gait and obstacles: older adults with Down syndrome.” Gait & Posture. 28(3), 448-455.

Rademacher, N., Black, D.P., & Ulrich, B.D. (2008). “Early spontaneous leg movements in infants born with and without myelomeningocoele.” Pediatric Physical Therapy, 20(2)137-145.

Chang, C-L, & Ulrich, B.D. (2008). “Lateral stabilization improves walking in people with myelomeningocele.” Journal of Biomechanics, 41, 1317-1323.

Wu, J., Looper, J., Ulrich, B. D., Ulrich, D. A., & Angulo-Barroso, R. M. (2007). “Exploring effects of different treadmill interventions on walking onset and gait patterns in infants with down syndrome.” Developmental Medicine and Child Neurology, 49(11), 839-845.

Black, D., Smith, B.A., Wu, J., & Ulrich, B.D. (2007). “Uncontrolled manifold analysis of segmental angle variability during walking: preadolescents with and without Down syndrome.” Experimental Brain Research, 183, 511-521.

Smith, B.A., Kubo, M., Black, D.P., Holt, K.G., Ulrich, B.D. (2007). “Impact of practice on a novel task, walking on a treadmill: preadolescents with and without Down syndrome.” Physical Therapy, 87, 1-12.

Holt, K.G., Saltzman, E., Ho, C-L., & Ulrich, B.D. (2007). “Scaling of dynamics in the earliest stages of walking.” Physical Therapy, 87(11), 1458-1467.

Kubo, M., & Ulrich, B.D. (2006). “A biomechanical analysis of the ‘highguard’ sition of arms during walking in toddlers.” Infant Behavior and Development, 29(4), 509-517.

Looper, J., Wu, J., Angulo Barroso, R., Ulrich, D., & Ulrich, B. (2006). “Changes in foot placement variability in newly walking toddlers with typical development and with Down syndrome.” Journal of Motor Behavior, 38(5), 367-372.

Chang, C-L., Kubo, M., Buzzi, U., & Ulrich, B. (2006). “Early changes in muscle activation patterns of toddlers during walking.” Infant Behavior and Development, 29(2), 175-188.

Kubo, M. & Ulrich, B. (2006). “Early stages of walking: Development of control in mediolateral and anteriorposterior directions.” Journal of Motor Behavior. 38(3), 229-237.

Ulrich, B.D., Haehl, V., Buzzi, U., Kubo, M., & Holt, K.G. (2004). “Modeling dynamic resource utilization in populations with unique constraints: Preadolescents with and without Down syndrome.” Human Movement Science, 23(2), 133-156.

Ulrich, D., Ulrich, B.D., Angulo-Kinzler, R., & Yun, J.K. (2001). “Treadmill training of infants with Down syndrome: Evidence-based developmental outcomes.” Pediatrics, 108 (5), 1-7.

Ulrich, B.D. (1997). “Dynamic systems theory and skill development in infants and children.” In K. Connolly & H. Forssberg (Eds.), Neurophysiology and Neuropsychology of Motor Development (pp.319-345) London: Mac Keith Press.

Ulrich, B.D., & Ulrich, D.A. (1995). “Spontaneous leg movements of infants with Down syndrome and nondisabled infants.” Child Development, 66, 1844-1855.

Ulrich, B.D., Ulrich, D.A., & Collier, D.H. (1992). “Alternating stepping patterns: Hidden abilities in 11-month-old infants with Down syndrome.” Developmental Medicine and Child Neurology, 34, 233-239.

Thelen, E. & Ulrich, B.D. (1991). “Hidden skills: A dynamic systems analysis of treadmill stepping during the first year.” Monographs of the Society for Research in Child Development, 56, (1, Serial No.223).

Members

Lab members 2008-09:
Front row (l to r): Beth Smith, Amy Leder, Mitra Daneshvar.
Middle row: Jennifer Sansom, Cheryl Drenning, Genna Mulvey, Beverly Ulrich, Jessica Davaloz, Brandon Kay.
Back row: Erin McCarty, Christina Atkins, Caroline Teulier, Tim Houston, Sydney Whitford.
Absent: Catherine Prince, Katherine Dato, Katie Schleich.

Faculty:
    Beverly Ulrich, Ph.D. (bdulrich@umich.edu)
Post-Doctoral Fellow(s):
    Genna Mulvey, Ph.D. (gmulvey@umich.edu)
Graduate Students:
    Beth Smith, D.P.T. (bethas@umich.edu)
    Jennifer Sansom, M.S., M.P.T. (jksansom@umich.edu)
Researcher Associate:
    Cheryl Drenning, R.N., B.S.N. (csdren@umich.edu)

Collaborators:
    David Black, Ph.D, Sensory Scientist, Procter and Gamble
    Chia-Lin Chang, Ph.D., Department of Physical Medicine & Rehabilitation, School of Medicine, University of Pittsburgh
    Kelvin Chou, Ph.D., Associate Professor of Neurology, Director of the Deep Brain Stimulation Clinic, University of Michigan
    Anniek Groenen, B.S. Physical Education Hanze Hogeschool, Groningen, The Netherlands; Master student Human Movement Science, Free University, Amsterdam, The Netherlands
    Jill C. Heathcock, M.P.T., Ph.D., Assistant Professor, School of Allied Medical Professions Division of Physical Therapy, Ohio State University
    Kenneth Holt, P.T., Ph.D., Boston University
    Joseph Horynak M.D., Associate Professor of Physical Medicine and Rehabilitation, Medical School and Adjunct Clinical Assistant Professor of Kinesiology, School of Kinesiology, University of Michigan
    Anne Kruijsea, B.S., Physiotherapy, Hanze Hogeschool Groningen, The Netherlands; Master student Human Movement Science, Free University, Amsterdam, The Netherlands
    Masayoshi Kubo, Sc.D., Department of Physical therapy, Niigata University of Health and Welfare
    Bernard J. Martin, Ph.D., Associate Professor of Industrial Operations Engineering, College of Engineering, University of Michigan
    Victoria A. Moerchen, P.T., Ph.D., Assistant Professor Physical Therapy, Department of Human Movement Science, College of Health Sciences, University of Wisconsin-Milwaukee
    Karin Muraszko M.D., Chair, Julian T. Hoff Professor, Department of Neurosurgery, University of Michigan
    Elliott Saltzman, Ph.D., Professor, Boston University Department of Physical Therapy
    Nick Stergiou, Ph.D., Isaacson Professor and Director of The HPER Biomechanics Laboratory, University of Nebraska at Omaha
    Caroline Teulier, Ph.D., Junior Lecturer in Motor Skills and Exercise Psychology, Department of Physical Education and Sports Science, University Of Limerick, Limerick, Ireland

Clinical Supporting Facilities:

• Department of Neurosurgery, University of Michigan, Ann Arbor, MI
• Myelodysplasia Clinic, Sparrow Hospital, Lansing, MI
• Myelomeningocele Care Center, Children's Hospital of Michigan, Detroit, MI
• Myelomeningocele Clinic, St. Vincent Mercy Children's Hospital, Toledo, OH

Lab Resources and Major Equipment

Our laboratory is approximately 2800 sq. feet with several rooms so that multiple studies can hold data collections simultaneously. 3D real-time movement data is recorded by a 6 camera Vicon-Peak Performance Technologies, Inc. system in the lab and a 2 camera portable system for on-the-road data collections. It has 32 channels for analog data acquisition so that other instrumentation such as our EMG, GAITRite, force plates, and so forth can be synchronized with movement data. In addition, we have many pieces of equipment specially designed for our research purposes. These include a special chair and mechanized tendon tap and vibration designed to test the sensory and motor responses in infant legs, and 3 infant-sized treadmills.