The National Institutes of Health (NIH) has awarded a $2.5 million research grant to study the effectiveness of an innovative approach to improve the ability of children with cerebral palsy to walk. This translational research grant was awarded to Noelle Moreau, PhD, an associate professor of physical therapy at Louisiana State…
Using two complementary assessment tools may better define the functional abilities of children with cerebral palsy, which could help clinicians pinpoint the best treatments and services for each patient, according to a study conducted in Jordan. The study, “Functional profiles of children with cerebral palsy in…
MiYoga, a mindfulness-based movement program, can enhance attention and the ability to consistently complete tasks in children with cerebral palsy, a study reports. The study, “Effect of mindfulness yoga programme MiYoga on attention, behaviour, and physical outcomes in cerebral palsy: a randomized controlled trial,” was published in Developmental Medicine and…
A recent survey found that people with disabilities are engaging in job preparation and job search activities, and also are successfully negotiating barriers at work. The survey was sponsored, in part, by the Kessler Foundation, a major nonprofit organization in the field of disability that strives to improve cognition, mobility and…
A power-training program aimed at improving the function of children with cerebral palsy helped them meet mobility goals, a Dutch study reported. The study was published in the European Journal of Physical and Rehabilitation Medicine. The title is “Improved parent-reported mobility and achievement of individual goals on activity and…
Children with unilateral cerebral palsy (UCP), compared to healthy children, have more difficulty gripping objects during specific movements, according to a recent study. Precision grip is necessary to pick up small objects between the thumb and the index finger and often is impaired in children with UCP. In technical language,…
A Canadian study identified a genetic link that may cause hemiplegic cerebral palsy (CP) in utero — while the fetus is developing. The study was a collaborative effort between many research scientists and clinicians in Ontario, Canada, and it was funded by the CP-NET (Childhood Cerebral Palsy Integrated Neuroscience Discovery…
A physical therapy approach known as neurodevelopmental treatment can improve shaking but not movement in children with cerebral palsy, according to a South Korean study. The study, published in the Journal of Physical Therapy Science, was titled “Effect of neurodevelopmental treatment-based physical therapy on the change of muscle strength,…
A new study reports that both gender and geography play roles in whether Swedish children with cerebral palsy (CP) receive needed physiotherapeutic interventions (PTIs). The study, “Physiotherapeutic interventions and physical activity for children in Northern Sweden with cerebral palsy: a register study from equity and gender perspectives,” appeared in the journal …