Balance

World-first guidelines for children with common inherited nerve disorder 

Paediatric neurologists and allied health clinicians have developed world-first clinical practice guidelines for children with Charcot-Marie-Tooth disease (CMT), the most common childhood inherited nerve disorder. This international … READ MORE

Understanding frailty will lead to better care for older adults

Research found most frail ICU survivors had only a one in five chance of living to one year after discharge. Ryan Jones, Univeristy of Waterloo July 7, 2021 Frailty is a better predictor than factors such as age when determining how … READ MORE

Disease severity, walking needs may guide patients’ orthosis choice

Clinical indices measuring disease severity and the need for walking assistance may help patients with Charcot-Marie-Tooth (CMT) disease in deciding on the type of orthosis required to provide added support for weakened muscles, a … READ MORE

The pandemic highlights the importance of walkable and wheelable neighbourhoods

The COVID-19 pandemic has highlighted the importance of neighbourhoods and how they fare in terms of walkability and wheelability. He is in a wheelchair, she has multiple sclerosis, but their neighbours know Grzegorz and Magda as a … READ MORE

Personalized CMT braces

Personalized CMT braces make Julie stronger! Charcot-Marie-Tooth disease, or CMT, is a disorder that affects the sensory and motor nerves in the arms, hands, feet, and legs. Find out about how orthopedic specialists were able to … READ MORE

The impact of ankle-foot orthoses on balance in older adults: A scoping review

Jürgen with WalkOn on stairs. Moving naturally. You can move naturally with the WalkOn during the day. When you crouch down or walk up a set of stairs for example, you can put a natural load on the forefoot. The WalkOn is ideally … READ MORE

FES and AFOs for foot drop: linking domains of patient experience

It’s natural to think in structural terms when considering the value of the treatment we provide, because O&P care is so closely identified with the provision of a device. An FES device can help some people with foot drop … READ MORE

Back to basics: Simple exercises are a practical, efficient way to boost fitness

Kinesiologist Marty Gibala is the lead author on research that shows that simple, old-school bodyweight exercises —no special equipment needed — can boost cardiorespiratory fitness. Georgia Kirkosn McMaster University By Michelle … READ MORE

Bursts of exercise can lead to significant improvements in indicators of metabolic health

Short bursts of physical exercise induce changes in the body’s levels of metabolites that correlate to, and may help gauge, an individual’s cardiometabolic, cardiovascular and long-term health, a study by Massachusetts General … READ MORE

Differences in walking patterns could predict type of cognitive decline in older adults

Canadian researchers are the first to study how different patterns in the way older adults walk could more accurately diagnose different types of dementia and identify Alzheimer’s disease. Lawson Health Research Institute Emilly … READ MORE

Your shoes were made for walking. And that may be the problem

Upward curve at tip eases motion but may lead to weaker muscles, problems. Credit: Freddy Sichting By Juan Siliezar, Harvard Gazette September 17, 2020 The toes of most shoes, especially sneakers, bend ever so slightly upward. While … READ MORE

Student awarded NIH Fellowship to examine balance, walking in children with cerebral palsy

Hassan Farah, a Virginia Tech translational biology, medicine, and health graduate student, has been awarded a $98,000 National Institutes of Health grant that will fund his remaining predoctoral research. The award supports … READ MORE

Wearable motion detectors identify subtle motor deficits in children

Could lead to early intervention, help prevent disability. Noah Drozda shows off a pair of motion detectors that he wore around the clock for a study on motor deficits in children. Researchers at Washington University School of … READ MORE

Parents modeling physical activity help kids with developmental disabilities improve motor skills

Parents can make a big difference by modeling and supporting physical activity in daily life, especially with younger children. A parent plays a game with her child. OSU Molly Rosbach, Oregon State University March 24, 2020 Corvallis, … READ MORE

Coach says 96-year-old ‘crushing it’ every week in CrossFit class

Retired doctor needed to build strength after stroke 2 years ago. 96-year-old Bill Mason doing deadlifts at his Prime Time CrossFit class. Sarah Keaveny Vos CBC Sarah Keaveny Vos, CBC News PEI October 23, 2020 Dr. Bill Mason … READ MORE

High intensity training best for older people

Five years of high-intensity interval training increased quality of life, improved fitness and might very well have extended the lives of participants in the Generation 100 study. High intensity interval training is really hard work, … READ MORE

Changes in older people’s central nervous system leads to compromised ability to sense movement

The central nervous system of older individuals responds to movement and initiates muscular contraction differently compared to young individuals. This is the result of a study led by researcher Simon Walker at the University of … READ MORE

Knock knees, bowlegs, pigeon toes? Usually nothing to worry about!

Babies have to fold into a tight little ball as they develop in their mom’s womb, right? When they come out, and stretch and move those little arms and legs, we realize what a miracle it was that they ever fit inside! Their bodies … READ MORE

SFU researchers working to improve quality of life for seniors in long-term care

The team looked at how to better protect older adults from hip fractures caused by falls. Hip protectors were worn in over 70 per cent of falls, and halved the risk for hip fracture. Injury Prevention and Mobility Laboratory IPML, … READ MORE

Physical activity of older people requires tailored monitoring

The ability to move about may deteriorate when ageing, a phenomenon which needs to be considered when assessing physical activity in older people. A study on active ageing at the University of Jyväskylä examined movement that … READ MORE

U of A robot rehab project hopes pandemic increases user comfort with virtual health care

Increased video-conferencing may boost willingness to book virtual appointments. A demonstration at the University of Alberta rehabilitation robotics lab shows how a robot with a video screen allows a specialist to monitor patient … READ MORE

Finding one’s way home

The Otic placode gives rise to the inner ear in vertebrates. A new study shows that even when it is transplanted to ectopic positions, the nerve cells that grow out of the transplanted ear can form functional connections in the brain. … READ MORE

First glimpse of body’s steering wheel joint sparks hope

For the first time, scientists have found a way to reveal the mechanics of the human body’s ‘steering wheel’ – the subtalar joint. Figure 1.5. Illustration of the inversion/eversion and plantar flexion/dorsiflexion movements. … READ MORE

UBC Okanagan research shows strength training is effective

Physical exercise may not be top of mind for older adults during the COVID-19 outbreak. But according to one UBC Okanagan researcher, strength training can be an effective way to stay healthy while at home. Jennifer Jakobi, professor … READ MORE

Keep your bones strong at every age

Falling may be painful, especially if the landing is less than graceful. Even a few steps out the front door can carry with them the risk of falling. After fifty years. Amsterdam, Netherlands 28 September 2016 Wikimedia Commons CC0 … READ MORE

New studies refute claims of fall prevention with AFO bracing

In 2011, a new custom ankle foot orthotic (AFO) brace, herein referred to as the Moore Balance Brace, was introduced to the podiatric community. From the outset, the Moore Balance Brace was marketed and promoted to prevent falls in … READ MORE

Walking slower and pausing for rest may enable older adults to maintain outdoor mobility

When functional ability declines, changing the way of walking by, for instance, walking slower, pausing for rest or using walking aids, can facilitate older adults’ outdoor mobility. These were the findings of a study conducted at … READ MORE

New insights: Improving function, independence and quality of life of individuals with cerebral palsy

Experts from across the world share new research and highlight developments in caring for individuals with cerebral palsy in the Journal of Pediatric Rehabilitation Medicine. ‘I am happy as I am’: Little Daisy becomes the … READ MORE

I’m learning to accept the benefits of my mobility aids

I recently read an article in the Virginia Journal of Education that made me think about my feelings toward my mobility aids. The author, Kelly Hickok, is a wheelchair user, and she described how mobility aids give her a sense of … READ MORE

Use of ankle-foot orthotics linked to improved gait, balance in CMT patients

Use of orthoses such as braces or other special devices can help improve the gait and balance of patients with Charcot-Marie-Tooth disease, but patients don’t always follow recommendations for their use, a review study has found. … READ MORE

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