Long-term treatment with botulinum toxin A (BoNT-A) stabilizes or improves motor function in children with cerebral palsy (CP) who have mild walking difficulties, according to a study from Australia. The work also found that comorbidities (simultaneous medical conditions) were less frequent among children whose gross motor skills improved…
A clinical trial is recruiting in China to evaluate the therapeutic effects of scalp acupuncture on the motor function of children with cerebral palsy (CP). The trial’s design, “Acupuncture treatment on the motor area of the scalp for motor dysfunction in children with cerebral palsy:…
Transplanting stem cells from the bone marrow to the spinal canal — where they can reach the brain — improves motor function and muscle tone in people with cerebral palsy (CP) related to jaundice, an open-label study shows. The study, “Improvement in gross motor function…
Hippotherapy — horse riding as a treatment or form of rehabilitation — that is done in sand or at a fast pace increases the demand for postural control while sitting in children with cerebral palsy (CP), a study finds. Its researchers suggest that these conditions may promote greater improvement…
The occurrence of cerebral palsy in South Carolina decreased significantly from 1996 to 2009, but was higher in very underweight infants, non-Hispanic black infants, and boys, a study shows. The study, “Decreasing prevalence of cerebral palsy in birth cohorts in South Carolina using Medicaid, disability service, and…
Future research should focus on studies across the lifespan of cerebral palsy patients, with emphasis on participation and quality of life measures, according to a research agenda for cerebral palsy developed by patients, caregivers, and clinicians. The study, “Setting a patient-centered research agenda for cerebral palsy: a…
Botulinum toxin A (BoNT-A, Botox) treatment prior to intensive physiotherapy may not induce additional benefits in terms of motor function, muscle strength, and pain in children with spastic cerebral palsy compared to physiotherapy alone, according to a Dutch study. The study, “Intramuscular botulinum toxin prior to comprehensive rehabilitation…
Adding core stability exercises to physical therapy improves trunk endurance — the ability to withstand fatigue — and walking ability in children with hemiplegic cerebral palsy, according to researchers. Their small study, “Trunk endurance and gait changes after core stability training in children with hemiplegic cerebral palsy: A…
External visual and auditory feedback using a system that exercises the upper limbs may improve praxis — the ability to conceptualize, plan, and execute unfamiliar motor movements — in children with hemiplegic cerebral palsy, according to a case report. The study, “Improvement of Praxis Skills in…
Researchers have discovered fundamental rules of how the brain controls movement in a worm — and the same rules could apply to higher organism such as humans. The finding could revolutionize the way we see and treat disorders involving loss of muscle function, such as cerebral palsy — or CP —…