Rhythmic auditory entrainment — a process that provides a timing cue for a biological rhythm — improves gait performance in patients with cerebral palsy (CP), research from Germany suggests. The study, ”Effect of rhythmic auditory cueing on gait in cerebral palsy: a systematic review and meta-analysis,” was published…
Genetic variations that affect how well the neurotransmitter dopamine generates nerve cell signals can influence how well children with cerebral palsy do on movement training, a study suggests. In fact, the variations may help predict the children’s response, researchers said. The report, “Genetic Variation in the Dopamine…
A 4-year-old girl with cerebral palsy appears to have improved motor function after receiving stem cell therapy, according to her mother and Advancells, a specialized cell-based therapy center in India. Cerebral palsy is the most prevalent motor disorder in childhood, affecting from 1 to more than 4 children per 1,000…
Magnesium sulfate, given to pregnant mothers in preterm labor to reduce the risk of cerebral palsy (CP) in the infant, does not give rise to other safety issues, a collaborative study between Canadian and U.K. scientists found. Earlier evidence from an analysis of multiple studies suggests that magnesium sulfate,…
PathMaker Neurosystems‘ MyoAmplifier device, which provides electrical and magnetic stimulation to improve muscle function and mobility in people with paralysis and muscle weakness, has received a funding award from the New England Pediatric Device Consortium (NEPDC). The award from the nonprofit foundation will support the development of the…
Botulinum toxin A (BoNT-A) does not appear to improve spasticity in cerebral palsy (CP) in children treated with intensive physiotherapy, a Dutch study shows. The research, “Value of botulinum toxin injections preceding a comprehensive rehabilitation period for children with spastic cerebral palsy: a cost-effectiveness study,”…
A smartphone app used in remote communities in India will now be used in rural areas of Australia to provide early detection and adequate intervention in babies born with cerebral palsy (CP). The initiative, called Learning through Everyday Activities with Parents (LEAP-CP), uses video taken on a smartphone to…
Administration of budesonide to extreme preterm newborns to prevent severe chronic pulmonary disease does not induce long-term neurodevelopmental impairments, such as cerebral palsy, cognitive delay, hearing impairment, or blindness, according to the results of a Phase 3 trial. The trial (NCT01035190) data were reported in an article…
Health Canada has approved Dysport (abobotulinumtoxinA) for the treatment of leg spasticity in children and teens ages 2 and older, including those with cerebral palsy. The treatment, which reduces spasticity by blocking nerve signaling, was previously shown to effectively improve muscle tone and movement ability in children.
A specific type of combination surgery may offer more long-term improvement in crouch gait among youths with cerebral palsy (CP). Numerically fewer patients who had such surgery — known as extension osteotomy with patellar tendon advancement (DFEO-PTA) — crouched at long-term follow-up, said researchers at Gillette Children’s Specialty Healthcare…