Shriners Children’s Becomes Largest Pediatric Motion Analysis Center in the World

What You Should Know:

– For more than 40 years, Shriners Children’s has been utilizing motion analysis technology, similar to what you might find in a Hollywood movie, in each of its 14 state-of-the-art Motion Analysis Centers (MACs).

–   Motion analysis helps physicians determine the best treatment methods for children with movement differences caused by conditions such as cerebral palsy, scoliosis, brachial plexus or sports injuries. Now, the nonprofit healthcare system is making a change that it hopes will lead to even better patient outcomes and research advances. 

Shriners Children’s Advances Pediatric Motion Analysis for Enhanced Patient Care

Shriners Children’s is dedicated to improving children’s lives through pediatric specialty care, innovative research, and comprehensive education for medical professionals. Children with orthopedic conditions, burns, spinal cord injuries, and cleft lip and palate receive high-quality, family-centered care, regardless of their family’s financial circumstances.

In a groundbreaking initiative, Shriners Children’s is digitally integrating all 14 of its Motion Analysis Centers (MACs) nationwide, establishing the world’s largest unified pediatric motion analysis network. To support this transformation, Shriners Children’s published a study in the Journal of Gait and Posture on its new Shriners Children’s Gait Model (SCGM), a standardized framework that enhances data comparison and interpretation across facilities. According to Dr. Marc Lalande, Vice President of Research, this advancement enables healthcare professionals to seamlessly share data, learn from past cases, refine future care strategies, and drive cutting-edge research.

“This is a truly groundbreaking advancement because it allows patients, doctors, physical therapists, engineers, and other staff to analyze thousands of new data points and historical pediatric cases, facilitating more informed treatment decisions,” said Dr. Lalande. “Previously, this process was cumbersome due to the lack of a unified system for processing and qualifying data. This change paves the way for innovative research and discoveries, ultimately improving patient outcomes.”

Motion analysis technology utilizes high-speed cameras, reflective markers, force platforms, and muscle sensors to assess a child’s movement patterns. The data is processed through computer-generated imagery (CGI), similar to video game graphics, enabling doctors to compare a patient’s gait to that of a child without movement differences. According to Dr. Ross Chafetz, Corporate Director of Motion Analysis Centers, this precise diagnostic approach allows physicians to pinpoint movement abnormalities and determine the most effective treatment plans.

As technology evolves, Shriners Children’s envisions expanding MAC capabilities globally, reaching millions of children in need. The organization is actively researching the application of artificial intelligence and smartphone-based motion analysis to evaluate movement disorders remotely, making this advanced tool accessible to children worldwide.

Dr. Vedant Kulkarni, Orthopedic Surgeon and Assistant Chief of Orthopedics at Shriners Children’s Northern California, emphasized the crucial role of motion analysis data in treatment planning, reinforcing its value in advancing pediatric orthopedic care.