The Eunice Kennedy Shriver National Institute of Child Health & Human Development (NICHD), a part of the National Institutes of Health (NIH), has awarded a five-year, $2.7 million research grant to support a trial that aims to see if “short-burst” treadmill training might help children with cerebral…
Including virtual reality therapy in rehabilitation programs can be a positive and enjoyable way of improving balance and walking ability in children with cerebral palsy (CP), according to a recent review. In line with the available evidence, its researchers advise using virtual reality therapy as a complement to conventional…
A structured home-based exercise program can improve walking ability in children with cerebral palsy (CP), a new has study found. Results of the research, “Structured home-based exercise program for improving walking ability in ambulant children with cerebral palsy,” were published in Journal of Pediatric Rehabilitation Medicine. Physical…
Strength training has the potential to reduce muscle weakness and improve walking ability of children with cerebral palsy (CP), but should be adapted to each child’s muscle response, a study reports. The study, “Strength Training…
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…
People with cerebral palsy who have walking difficulties are at risk of developing cardiovascular disorders and may be more vulnerable to heart problems, a study finds. Doctors should be aware of these problems and provide adequate care to these patients by…
A drop in muscle strength may be the driver of the fast decline observed in motor capacity in cerebral palsy patients, researchers found. The study, “Functional capacity in adults with cerebral palsy: Lower limb muscle strength matters,” was published in the…
Although dalfampridine extended-release treatment was found safe and well-tolerated in a pilot study in adults with cerebral palsy (CP), the drug failed to show any impact on walking ability. Although the trial, which focused on adult CP patients with walking difficulties, was small, the lack of benefits prompted researchers to…
A single injection of Dysport (abobotulinumtoxinA) significantly improves the ability of children with cerebral palsy to achieve their functional goals, according to a study published in the Journal of Child Neurology.