Assistive technology
Self-care and improved mobility
It was Father’s Day, back in June 1998, when the life of David Andrews was abruptly turned upside down. The Vancouver engineer had just returned home after a long walk with his wife Merylin. He was chasing his dog, who was poking
… READ MOREA person’s testimony doesn’t always agree with objective evidence—that’s why some defense attorneys won’t allow their clients to take the stand during a trial, even in their own defense. Similarly, as most clinicians know,
… READ MOREGiven the heterogeneity of many patient populations for whom ankle foot orthoses (AFOs) are indicated, it’s not surprising that AFO experts are at the forefront of the current trend favoring customization of devices to meet
… READ MOREAssessing device alignment is a key aspect of prosthetic practice, but when it comes to lower extremity orthotics the process is less common. That’s changing, however, as researchers begin to document the effects of alignment on
… READ MOREWhen you push someone in a wheelchair, you may be hurting your back without knowing it. Researchers at The Ohio State University Spine Research Institute measured the forces on the spine caused by pushing a wheelchair, and discovered
… READ MOREHealthcare is poised for an upheaval, with the arrival of artificially intelligent health apps that could replace visits to the doctor. Smartening up medicine. Your.MD By Douglas Heaven, New Scientist 19 July 2017 Stiff neck,
… READ MOREDisability is often incorrectly assumed to be rare. However, global estimates suggest than one in seven adults has some form of disability. The term “disability” covers a number of functional limitations – physical, sensory,
… READ MOREThis summer, KPCB partner Mary Meeker’s 2017 Internet Trends report singled out healthcare as a sector ripe with opportunity. The report proposed that the healthcare market, driven by a number of converging technologies, is
… READ MOREThe health care sector is facing a far-reaching and unpredictable revolution. Smartphones are capable of replacing many devices that have become standard in medical practices and some apps will soon be able to provide diagnoses as
… READ MOREAll employees deserve access to tools to succeed at work. Disabilities offer a challenge for job seekers and the workplace. After spending 75 days in the hospital, 12 of which were in a coma, and then several months after that in a
… READ MOREQuestions raised over quality of consultations and universality principle. Virtual medical services that connect family physicians and patients with minor illnesses and injuries are popping up online in Canada, leading to questions
… READ MOREA toddler has taken her first independent steps wearing revolutionary shoes made by a small company in Sydney’s west. A Mum’s Perspective – Crowdfunding 3D printed equipment for kids with disabilities. AbilityMate 9NEWS
… READ MOREImproved mobility with ankle foot orthoses and other devices can help patients experience the multiple health benefits of increased physical activity. But aggressive activity goals— including the oft-cited target of 10,000 steps per
… READ MOREUnder The Weather is a single-person pop-up shelter to sit inside that my big brother Rick came up with a while back. (He was sick of getting soaked at his kids’ soccer games and was inspired by a portable toilet he saw by the
… READ MOREThe health care industrial complex has spent billions of dollars and untold amounts of time trying to make medical records as flexible, invisible and unobtrusive as possible for patients and clinicians alike. Dr. R. Adams Dudley, who
… READ MORE“Every year that we can have baseball for him is one more happier year for him,” says father. Braeden Palmer, 3, is a Toronto Blue Jays superfan. Without the Challenger baseball program for kids with disabilities in St.
… READ MOREMany years ago I worked with a doctor who would disappear for a few moments at important decision points in clinical care. Sometimes this was during ward rounds and sometimes on call. He was an excellent doctor—the momentary
… READ MOREA proper running technique focusing on every step can help an athlete increase efficiency while preventing injury. Specifically, how the foot strikes the ground can affect performance, comfort, and even pain following an exercise
… READ MOREA Stanford inquiry into the accuracy of seven wristband activity monitors showed that six out of seven devices measured heart rate within 5 percent. None, however, measured energy expenditure well. Study participants wore the fitness
… READ MOREStretched thin by the needs of your children and your elderly parents? Try this “sandwich generation” solution: Move your young adults in with their grandparents and let them take care of each other. Practical tips for
… READ MOREStrategically placed zippers make clothes easy to get on and get off. A former Olympian hopes her family’s new online clothing store will give people with disabilities more independence. Super-Fly Adaptive Apparel. Fun &
… READ MOREThe spotlight will shine again on the event at the Calgary Scotiabank Marathon on May 28. 112 people tied together finish Calgary Marathon CBC News Just like a pop star who reinvents herself at every comeback, the marathon that dates
… READ MOREThe device is a manual standing wheelchair providing mobility in either a seated or standing position. The Center for Bionic Medicine (CBM) has developed an innovative manual standing wheelchair. It is one of the first manual
… READ MOREThe demographic crystal ball shows elderly care is a crisis set to deepen, fast. No wonder UK politicians are grasping for solutions. The United Kingdom is on the verge of a social care crisis as funding for the care of the elderly is
… READ MOREThe AlterG is an anti-gravity treadmill being used for physiotherapy at the University of Alberta. Mariya Oleinikova (left) uses the AlterG anti-gravity treadmill under the watchful eye of physical therapy professor Kim Dao. Richard
… READ MORESystem easier for patients and cheaper for clinics. Physiotherapy patients can get more accurate feedback on rehab exercises and clinics can save money thanks to a new system developed by researchers at the University of Waterloo. A
… READ MOREThe national rail provider fought an order to change its policy but has decided to comply. Toronto couple Martin Anderson and Marie Murphy both use mobility scooters. Via Rail has changed its policy on wheelchairs and other mobility
… READ MOREWhile you may think electronic medical records could only improve health care, health researcher Conrad Amenta says think twice. He says the increased workload that comes with EMRs is leading to doctor burnout – and even higher
… READ MOREApple “Designed for Everyone” campaign marks Global Accessibility Awareness Day. According to the World Health Organization, more than a billion people in the world are living with some sort of disability. That’s one in seven of
… READ MORERobert Bush has multiple sclerosis (MS), which sapped his ability to walk five years ago. Joseph McGlynn suffered a stroke that seriously impaired his left side, also five years ago. Neural stimulation helps Joseph McGlynn, left, who
… READ MORE
