Stillings, Sam
Sam
Stillings
Presentation: 2026 ND EPSCoR Annual conference
October 20, 2026, Minot, North Dakota
Do Trexo Robotic™ devices enhance bowel movements in children with stage (IV) and stage (V) cerebral palsy?
Sam
Stillings
Undergraduate Student
Dickinson State College
Sarah Manka assistant professor of biology at Dickinson State University
Session
Poster #4
Cerebral palsy (CP) affects over 17 million people worldwide, with 26% to 74% of children with CP experiencing constipation. I hypothesize that using an over-ground robotic gait trainer developed by Trexo Robotics™ will benefit children with CP by improving peristalsis, increasing blood flow, and strengthening abdominal muscles from walking. Therefore, resulting in bowel movement improvement over the course of one year compared to children who do not use these devices. I will connect with families across North Dakota with children diagnosed with cerebral palsy stage (IV) or stage (V) who use walking devices. I will connect with multiple cerebral palsy support groups and physical therapists to contact participants for a control group. Monthly online surveys will be completed for one year to track bowel movements, related variables, therapies, and Trexo™ usage. Data will be analyzed using t-test, mixed models, and linear regression models. If the expected results were achieved, this would show Trexo Robotics™ as a possible alternative to traditional bowel movement treatments for children with cerebral palsy, with the hope that more children will be able to utilize these devices.
