Muscle stiffness and contractures are a main concern in cerebral palsy, as they limit mobility. The cause of muscle stiffness is not known.

Initial Hypothesis

• Muscle stiffness and contractures exists. The cause could be due to changes in extracellular matrix of patients with cerebral palsy.

Core Questions

• Is there a difference in the tissue (extracellular matrix) between individual cells of typically developing patients and those who are affected by cerebral palsy?
• ls fibrosis in the tissue between individual cells (extracellular matrix) a cause of the stiffness and contractures?

Research Team

• Kristen Stearns-Reider, PhD, PT; Eileen Fowler, PhD, PT; Rachel Thompson, MD