A single intramuscular injection of botulinum toxin A — more commonly known as botox — can significantly reduce upper limb spasticity and improve functional outcomes in children with cerebral palsy, a study finds. The study, “Effect of botulinum toxin type-A in spasticity and functional outcome of…
Selective dorsal rhizotomy — a surgical method used to treat spasticity in people with cerebral palsy — leads to significant short-term improvements in gait, a new study shows. “The short-term effects of selective dorsal rhizotomy on gait compared to matched cerebral palsy control groups” was published in the journal…
Combining a family-centered program and typical infant physiotherapy are likely to work best for effective early interventions in children at very high risk of developing cerebral palsy, according to a study. The study, “LEARN2MOVE 0–2 years, a randomized early intervention trial for infants at very high risk of…
A modified version of a robotic-assisted walker, called SoloWalk, significantly helped to improve the lives of children with cerebral palsy, both physically and socially, a small study in people with quadriplegia secondary to this disease reports. The study, “Development of a robotic walker for individuals with cerebral palsy,” was published…
Virtual reality-based, real-time feedback can help improve gait abnormalities in people with cerebral palsy, a new study shows. The study, “Immediate effects of immersive biofeedback on gait in children with cerebral palsy,” was published in the journal Physical Medicine and Rehabilitation. Gait, which refers to a person’s manner…
A type of brain lesion in infants with unilateral cerebral palsy affecting one side of the body — called a middle cerebral artery infarct lesion — is linked with poorer responses to activity-based treatments for improving hand function, a new study shows. The study, “Brain Lesions as a Predictor of Therapeutic…
A lightweight, untethered ankle exoskeleton can lead to clinically significant improvements in walking economy in children and young adults with cerebral palsy, a study shows. The study, “An untethered ankle exoskeleton improves walking economy in a pilot study of individuals with cerebral palsy,” was published in IEEE Transactions on Neural Systems…
Children with cerebral palsy are more likely than others to develop cardiovascular disease in adulthood, a study reports. The study, “Cardiovascular disease and related risk factors in adults with cerebral palsy: a systematic review,” was published in the journal Developmental Medicine & Child Neurology. Because cerebral palsy starts…
A new version of test called the functional strength measurement developed for children with cerebral palsy is a feasible, reliable, and valid method of measuring functional strength, a study shows. The study, “Functional strength measurement in cerebral palsy: feasibility, test–retest reliability, and construct validity,” was published in the…
A systematic approach is necessary when evaluating pain in children with medical complexities who cannot verbally communicate pain, according to a new study. The study, “CE: Original Research Pain in Nonverbal Children with Medical Complexity A Two-Year Retrospective Study,” was published in the American Journal of Nursing. Pain is a basic symptom of many medical…