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Does your baby need helmet therapy? 5 facts about flat head syndrome

Babies come in all different shapes and sizes. But if your infant’s head shape is giving you cause for concern, it may be plagiocephaly — a condition where your baby has a flat spot or misshapen head. Orthomerica Starband UCLA … READ MORE

Vacuum Bell wear and care instructions

Types of Klobe Vacuum Bell: the pectus clinic works with Eckart Klobe, the inventor and manufacturer of the Klobe Vacuum bell, the first device developed specifically to offer a non-surgical treatment for pectus excavatum. Photo … READ MORE

Download Clinical Assessment of Infant Head Shapes

Assessment guides are available here. Jack. Orthomerica Starband. ☞ Download Referrals for orthotic evaluation are recommended for deformational plagiocephaly (Types 3-5), and for deformational brachycephaly (Types 2-3). … READ MORE

Vacuum Bell therapy: A nonsurgical option for chest wall depression (pectus excavatum)

While children with severe pectus excavatum often need surgery, vacuum bell therapy may make surgery unnecessary. Boston Children’s Hospital by Joanne Barker, Clinical Care, Boston Children’s Hospital June 29, 2021 Pectus … READ MORE

Device is an easier option to correct chest deformity

Dr. Robert Obermeyer of Children’s Hospital of The King’s Daughters in Norfolk shows Austin Hinton and his mother, Tina Hinton, how to operate Austin’s new “vacuum bell” on Wednesday, Nov. 21, 2012. The … READ MORE

Understanding flat head syndrome (Plagiocephaly) in babies

Flat head syndrome, or plagiocephaly as the condition is medically known, occurs when a flat spot develops on the back or side of a baby’s head. Medically reviewed by Melanie Santos — Written by Donna Christiano, Healthline … READ MORE

CP patients wear AFOs less than prescribed

An open-access study, published in Rehabilitation Research and Practice, investigated the wear time of commonly used AFOs in children with cerebral palsy (CP). Shoes for Orthotics, AFOs, DAFOs. CHASA support groups The O&P EDGE … READ MORE

The rest of the story – helmet treatment

Just under three years ago, the O&P profession was startled by the publication of the first randomized controlled trial (RCT) on the efficacy of cranial remolding orthoses.[1] Wren’s plagiocephaly and helmet journey – … READ MORE

Edmonton mom raises awareness about condition that requires baby to get head-shaping helmet

Angie McIntosh noticed her baby boy couldn’t turn his head to the right when he was six weeks old. Dylan McIntosh also had a strange flat spot on the left side of his head. Angie McIntosh’s baby Dylan has plagiocephaly, an … READ MORE

Helmet study highlighted in The New York Times is flawed

Cranial remolding expert Ellie Boomer CPO, shares her commentary on the helmet therapy article highlighted in the May 1 issue of The New York Times. UCSF Benioff Children’s Hospital By Ellie Boomer CPO LPO, The O&P Edge … READ MORE

Almost half of babies have flat spot on head, but prevention is simple

Parents can take a few simple steps to prevent their baby’s head from becoming misshapen. 3D scanning for plagiocephaly helmet therapy with Orthomerica SmartSoc app. OAPL Sheryl Ubelacker, The Canadian Press, Global News Calgary … READ MORE

New guidelines review evidence on PT, helmets for positional plagiocephaly

Positional plagiocephaly is a common condition encountered by pediatricians and referred to pediatric subspecialty physicians such as neurosurgeons and plastic surgeons. Twins wearing their CranioCap® Orthoses. Gillette … READ MORE

Novel 3D imaging for chest wall anomalies in Calgary

Novel 3D imaging for chest wall anomalies: The early Calgary experience, Jennifer YK Lam, Janet Ronsky, Marc Schneider, Mary Brindle, Steven Lopushinsky, Nancy Schneider, Jacob Reichbart. Canadian Association of Paediatric … READ MORE

Pectus carinatum causes, symptoms and treatment

The Calgary Protocol: bracing for Pectus carinatum. Braceworks UCSF Benioff Children’s Hospital November 26, 2016 – Updated July 2021 Pectus carinatum is characterized by a protrusion of the sternum that occurs as a result … READ MORE

Teen born with a pigeon chest now stands taller

A teenager from Hemel Hempstead, Hertfordshire born with a rare condition known as ‘pigeon chest’ is now standing taller than his twin brother after undergoing an innovative new treatment to correct the condition. James … READ MORE

New approaches to orthotic management in children with cerebral palsy

Practitioners look to novel ways of using familiar lower limb orthotic alternatives to complement new technology. No single treatment is appropriate for every child, but it is generally agreed that the sooner intervention is started … READ MORE

Calgary pediatric AFO clinic – Kids are us!

Ankle-foot orthoses for children and youth. Personalize your orthotics – Braceworks AFO clinic for children is available by appointment only. See your doctor or physiotherapist for diagnosis and prescription first. New patients … READ MORE

Bracing results in significant improvements in pectus carinatum

Comfort is the key because the brace is worn continuously to provide compression during regular daily activity. Patients are more compliant with the Braceworks PC brace and encouraging results are often apparent early in … READ MORE

Double bonus – AFOs improve dual-task gait in two ways

Ankle foot orthoses intervene at the level of the body and at the level of activity. But they might also have effects at the level of participation. – Nikta Pirouz CPO By Jordana Bieze Foster, Lower Extremity Review March 2015 … READ MORE

Order the Braceworks Pectus Brace

☞ Download the Braceworks Pectus Brace® order form, PDF Visit the  Apple App Store or ▶︎ Google Play on your tablet or phone to install Adobe Acrobat Reader for mobile devices. For ease of use, we recommend opening the … READ MORE

Tummy time, reading among recommended activities that boost babies’ motor development

Following Canadian movement guidelines could help infants hit gross motor milestones sooner — and set them up for healthy habits later, research shows. Guide to Tummy Time: When to start and how to make tummy time fun. Healthline. … READ MORE

Algorithm measures quality of gait through smart watches

The Watch Walk algorithm could help reduce falls and fall-related injuries in elderly people, study shows. Participants aged 46 to 77 were instructed to wear a device on their dominant wrists for seven days. Photo by SHVETS … READ MORE

Canadian universities need to be more inclusive for Para athletes

Erica Gavel says U.S., U.K. schools do better job for Para athletes. Erica Gavel says Canadian universities need to make it a priority to provide Para athletes with better access to facilities, sports science, therapy, coaching, … READ MORE

2023 Adapted Bike Program – Cerebral Palsy Kids and Families

The Adapted Bike Program ensures that children, youth, and young adults with physical disabilities know the simple joy of riding a bike. We are delighted to advise you that our 2023 Adapted Bike Program registration is now open. We … READ MORE

Alberta parents can call Health Link with questions about their child’s development

811 now offers parents guidance about kids’ milestones. Health Link 811 is now offering a pediatric rehabilitation line, providing free advice and guidance. Robert Short CBC. CBC News Calgary March 17, 2023 A new service has been … READ MORE

Winnipeg sprinter Lightning Lou dies at 99

Lou Billinkoff started running at 89, and became fastest 95-year-old in country. Lou Billinkoff started running at 89 years old after suffering a mild heart attack. Courtesy Errol Billinkoff. CBC CBC News Manitoba March 15, 2023 Lou … READ MORE

Dramatic change from pandemic brought on stress for mothers

First large-scale study of mothers shows those who experienced greatest amount of pandemic-related change experienced symptoms of traumatic stress. Charles Deluvio, Unsplash. CC0 Public Domain By Hope Hamashige, Keck School of … READ MORE

Brace may prevent further hip displacement in children with non-ambulatory cerebral palsy

Published results showed use of a novel hip brace was effective for preventing progression of hip displacement and improving quality of life in patients with nonambulatory cerebral palsy. My Baby’s Hip Dysplasia. Coping with my … READ MORE

March is Cerebral Palsy Awareness Month

March is a time to bring awareness to cerebral palsy but also a time to support and celebrate those who live with CP. Whether you have CP, know someone who does, or just want to learn more, this is a great opportunity to get involved … READ MORE

For young adults with disabilities, the future of work can be hard to envision

Young adults with disabilities are not looking too far into the future. Instead, they’re more focused on the present and the more pressing need of finding a job with supportive work conditions. Their health needs today can make it … READ MORE

Provoke™ ligament knee brace

Provoke™ – The first ligament knee brace to reproduce the natural movement of the knee. Osskin. Built around human factors and ergonomics Provoke is designed and engineered around each leg and patient’s needs, with the … READ MORE

Cerebral palsy doesn’t cause death in adults, so why is it still listed as an underlying cause?

Listing cerebral palsy as the main cause of death for adults with the disease can contribute to a lack of understanding about how the condition interacts with various secondary illnesses and complications. Cerebral palsy should never … READ MORE

Alberta, Ottawa sign health-care funding deal worth $24B over 10 years

‘This is a productive first step,’ Premier Danielle Smith says of agreement. Alberta has become the seventh province to sign an agreement in principle with Ottawa on health-care funding. Prime Minister Justin Trudeau and … READ MORE

Preventive care lacking for disabled patients

Kim Bullock, MD, said she often hears directly from adults with intellectual and developmental disabilities (IDDs) about their difficulties with obtaining preventive care. Emily Ladau’s new book makes the world of disability … READ MORE

Pedestrians choose healthy obstacles over boring pavements, study finds

Up to 78% of walkers would take a more challenging route featuring obstacles such as balancing beams, stepping stones and high steps, research has found. The findings suggest that providing ‘Active Landscape’ routes in urban areas … READ MORE

Some parents are leaving Ontario because of frustrations with its autism program

Province has stopped providing updates on progress to enroll children in core services. Hundreds of parents, therapists and union members gather outside Queen’s Park, in Toronto on March 7, 2019, to protest the provincial … READ MORE

Improving the accuracy of markerless gait analysis

Researchers combine RGB camera-based pose estimation and an inertial measurement unit sensor to reduce errors in gait analysis A more accurate markerless gait analysis tool. TUS researchers develop a method that enables accurate gait … READ MORE

Tips on how to prevent dementia as we grow older

Aging is inevitable, but there are ways to improve our ‘health span’ and prevent dementia. Aging Well: Avoiding Dementia. Dr. Howard Chertkow offers 15 pieces of advice that we can all follow to reduce our risk of dementia. The … READ MORE

Toward early detection of pathological social withdrawal, Hikikomori

Researchers develop a questionnaire that may identify hikikomori in its early stages. Kyushu University researchers have developed a new ‘Hikikomori Questionnaire’ in an effort to detect the condition at an earlier stage. … READ MORE

Austerity & disabled people in the UK: Q&A with Frances Ryan

Dr. Frances Ryan is a journalist, broadcaster and author. Her weekly Guardian column, Hardworking Britain, has been at the forefront of coverage of austerity this decade. Ryan was highly commended Specialist Journalist of the Year at … READ MORE

Quarter of former Olympians suffer from osteoarthritis

Competing at elite level in sport is linked with an increased risk of developing osteoarthritis and joint pain in later life, a study suggests. Elite retired sportspeople who had experienced a sports-related injury had a higher chance … READ MORE

Pediatricians get new guidance on Cerebral palsy

A pair of major health organizations are issuing new guidance to doctors about how to identify children with cerebral palsy and appropriately treat the condition. Emily Pineda, who has cerebral palsy, walks with the help of pediatric … READ MORE

Ruptured ACLs can heal without surgery, study finds

Anterior cruciate ligament (ACL) ruptures can heal without surgery and this could be key to better patient outcomes, according to new findings challenging the common notion that an ACL injury cannot heal. A new study challenges the … READ MORE

Wheelchair dancer in the sky

Dangling upside down in your wheelchair 30-45 feet above a crowd of onlookers isn’t most people’s idea of a good time, but for Rodney Bell it’s ideal. Rodney Bell and Chloe Loftus hang high above a captivated Sydney audience … READ MORE

Non-invasive spinal modulation for Cerebral palsy

SpineX, a medtech company based in California, has developed the Spinal Cord Innovation in Pediatrics (SCiP) device, a non-invasive spinal cord neuromodulation technology that is intended to treat children with cerebral palsy. Conn … READ MORE

Alberta Health redirects thousands of orthopedic surgeries to independent clinics to tackle backlog

Publicly funded hip, knee surgeries will be done at chartered health-care facility. ‘This is public healthcare,’ says Alberta Minister of Health, Jason Copping. ‘We know we need to increase our capacity because … READ MORE

Younger doctors call for more attention to disabled patients

Jerry is a 53 year old father of four children. He’s independent, has a house, raised a family and his adult kids still look to him for support. Jerry recently retired as a computer programmer in 2009, and competes and coaches in … READ MORE

Canada’s health-care system has a data problem, experts say. And it puts patients at risk

‘It’s not good to be flying blind,’ says one doctor pushing for change. Nurse Dave Riar checks on a patient in the intensive care unit at the Royal Columbia Hospital in New Westminster, B.C., on Thursday, March 31, … READ MORE

Surgery not the only option for people with knee osteoarthritis

Yet study finds most not sticking with non-surgical treatment plans. Evoke 3D printed custom knee brace. Osskin. Arthritis Research Canada July 22, 2022 Vancouver – Research reveals only one in five people with knee osteoarthritis … READ MORE

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