Health Tech
Emerging research, products, and human factors
Research is helping develop new treatments, strategies and surgeries, doctor says. The University of Calgary and Alberta Health Services have teamed up for a campaign encouraging Albertans to sign up for clinical trials. Dr. Michael
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Task-oriented training (TOT) improves hand dexterity in children with cerebral palsy (CP), according to a preliminary study from South Korea. Children with CP often show delayed development, impaired body movement, and limitations in
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In a 2016 video, a man seated on a cool-looking modified Segway called an Ogo wowed viewers with a slick demo of the device’s hands-free driving capabilities. By simply leaning in the direction he wanted to go, the rider
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With public programs stretched, some parents are turning to private therapies to help kids overcome mobility problems – but the jury is still out on their effectiveness. Therapist Sandi Marshall (left) and mother Nancy Grant (right)
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Nearly 343,000 Québecers receive publicly-funded home care. Critics hope political parties commit to change. Rosalyn Williams-Ness has received home care services for the past 12 years. She says she lives with almost constant
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Cliff Barr has no illusions about how his life is going to end but he still has hope. ALS patient Cliff Barr, left, who is taking part in a new Canada-wide clinical trial to treat ALS, poses in an examination room with tria leader Dr.
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Providing training and resources, MakerHealth helps nurses and doctors hack medical equipment to improve patient care. Physician Chris Zahner at the University of Texas Medical Branch designing sensor systems in the MakerHealth Space.
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Modified vehicles offer independence to children, hope to parents. Khyla Buium, a two-year-old with cerebral palsy, along with her mom Julie were at the Wascana Rehabiliation Centre to demonstrate a modified ride-on car that was
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Samsung created a SmartSuit to help improve training for Dutch short track speed skaters. Samsung continues its long association with the Olympics as the worldwide Olympic partner of the 2018 Winter Games that take place in
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My disability makes even mundane tasks more complicated than they otherwise would be. And I don’t have a surplus of money to buy every piece of adaptive equipment that might look handy. But I like to do things, and I suspect many of
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A Borderline Option. Ambassador Bridge workers (from bottom left to right) Hector Renaud, (unknown), Earl Foley, Art Langois, and Louis Renaud in 1953, according to Louis Renaud. He says the man in the white shirt was another
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Using eye-motion camera and tablet software, breakthrough occurred during Christmas Day visit. A Nova Scotia amendment would have protected Joellan Huntley from government clawbacks. CTV News Atlantic Keith Doucette, The Canadian
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Scott Killian never imagined his Apple Watch might save his life, but that’s exactly what happened a few weeks ago when he had a heart attack in the middle of the night. Killian recently shared his personal experience with 9to5Mac,
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Yellowknife’s first such team has about 20 players, but only one actually requires a seated sled. Riley Oldford, 12, who has limited mobility, has inspired the formation of Yellowknife’s first sledge hockey team. Sarah Bridge
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From autonomous wheelchairs to air-powered ones with no electronic parts, we have covered some pretty nifty innovation taking place in the world of wheelchairs. Another one to add to the collection is a wheelchair called
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This week’s heavy snowfall has made life in Calgary just a little more difficult — from having to scrape icy windshields, to navigating slippery roads and trudging through high snow drifts. But for people will mobility issues,
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What Happens When We Let Tech Care For Our Aging Parents. As the U.S. population ages, people in need of 24/7 monitoring will outnumber available caregivers. One company’s answer: Let an avatar do the job. Sometimes Jim would
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Christmas has come early, with the help of British Airways and Charlbury-based SpecialEffect, for 12-year-old football fan, Finlay Sangster, who has cerebral palsy. Finlay’s mum, Gail, wrote to the airline to ask for some Christmas
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Elham Albakar and her family came to Canada in 2015 after fleeing conflict in Aleppo. Elham was presented with the bike by the Cerebral Palsy Association of Manitoba, Freedom Concepts and the Winnipeg Goldeyes Field of Dreams
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Creative Options Regina works with others in the community to connect individuals and families to whatever services are required. Andrew Ronnie (left) and Michael Lavis, executive director of Creative Options Regina — a no-profit
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A therapeutic shoe engineered to improve stroke recovery is proving successful and expected to hit the market by the end of the year. Clinical trials have been completed on the U.S. patented and licensed iStride Device, formerly the
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Bad knees sideline athletes and mere mortals alike. About 14 million Americans have osteoarthritis of the knees severe enough to cause pain and inflammation, according to the Arthritis Foundation, and more people are getting the
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Canada has the highest rate of multiple sclerosis in the world. In 2009, Italian physician Paolo Zamboni published an explosive paper about a new treatment for MS, which became known as MS “liberation therapy.” For the
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“I’d drive 1,000 miles for an experience like this.” Harrison Markin, 6 yrs, experiences a giant snow globe and visits Santa and Mrs Claus at Southcentre Mall in southwest Calgary on Sunday, December 3, 2017. The mall hosted a
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We finally did it last year. In 2016, we hit the 20-week mark for the average wait time for treatment by a specialist (across 12 medical specialities) after referral from a general practitioner. Canada’s national shame had reached a
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Erin Kelly, a writer with cerebral palsy, reflects on the mental aspects of an ordinary morning. I woke to the sight of a dull-orange sun bleeding through my bedroom window. I stirred under my covers for a moment before I noticed an
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More than one injection of botulinum toxin A in children with cerebral palsy (CP) was seen as less effective over the long term and had fewer gait benefits compared to patients injected once or not at all, according to a new
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‘To me it’s unacceptable,’ says study author Julie Gaudet. ‘We’re not living in a Third World country here.’ Kathleen Leger says a limited income has left her scrambling, trying to pay for rent,
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Calgary Interprofessional Challenge encourages student solutions. Typically, students are ensconced within their respective faculties and programs. Possibly they will take electives that broaden their education. The Calgary
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University of Calgary research study benefits people with severe essential tremor. Zelma Kiss, University of Calgary neurosurgeon and professor, with patient Elias Pharaon. The 85-year-old suffers from a movement disorder called
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