A screening test that evaluates the function of facial muscles that control breathing and chewing may be a valuable tool to assess children with cerebral palsy, a Turkish study suggests. The study, “Assessment of orofacial dysfunction using the NOT-S method in a group of Turkish children with…
Analysis of minerals and essential elements present in the hair may help identify children with cerebral palsy and clarify the link between the disorder and psychomotor delay or certain diseases, a study suggests. The results, “A Case-Control Study of Essential and Toxic Trace Elements and Minerals in…
The amount of rehabilitation therapy given children with cerebral palsy has a small effect on their developmental outcomes, while therapy that is family-centered and focused on a child’s well-being and specific tasks seems to help, a study reports. “Physical, occupational, and speech therapy for children with cerebral palsy”…
Functional power training may help improve gait patterns in children with cerebral palsy, but the effects may be small and only detectable at higher walking speeds, a small study has found. The study, “Effects of functional power training on gait kinematics in children with cerebral palsy,” was…
Adult patients with cerebral palsy have almost twice the risk of developing osteroarthritis, and about six-times greater risk of developing osteoporosis, a U.K. population-based study has found. The findings, “Incidence of osteoarthritis, osteoporosis and inflammatory musculoskeletal diseases in adults with cerebral palsy: A population-based cohort study,” were…
Adolescents with cerebral palsy have low bone mass, which significantly improves and is maintained during early adulthood, Australian researchers have found. This suggests that cerebral palsy patients may benefit from early interventions to prevent bone mass loss, or improve bone metabolism, to optimize bone health from early childhood. The study,…
Treatment with baclofen administered directly into the spinal fluid is less invasive and more effective than deep brain stimulation to improve the quality of life of adults with cerebral palsy (CP), a retrospective and comparative study shows. These findings were reported by Korean researchers in a study titled “…
Physical exercises based on virtual reality may be an effective way to improve the motor performance of children and adolescents with cerebral palsy, a pilot study suggests. The study, “Analysis of motor performance in individuals with cerebral palsy using a non-immersive…
Adolescents with cerebral palsy do not meet the recommendations for healthy weight and physical activity, a study shows. They may also have a high percentage of body fat as well as sedentary behaviors. The study, “Do adolescents with cerebral palsy meet recommendations for healthy weight and physical…
Spinal manipulation, a physical therapy focused on realigning and reactivating spinal articulations, may help reduce muscle contractions (spasticity) in the short term in cerebral palsy patients, results of a clinical trial suggest. Trial results were published in the study, “Influence of Spinal Manipulation on Muscle Spasticity…