Neuromotor

Improving surgery outcomes for children with cerebral palsy

Children with cerebral palsy frequently undergo invasive surgeries — lengthening tendons, rotating bones, transferring muscles to new locations — in hopes of improving their physical ability to walk or move. Walk-DMC is a new, … READ MORE

Measuring postural sway to diagnose neuromuscular disorders

A new technique might be used to diagnose neuromuscular disorders such as multiple sclerosis or impairment from concussions by detecting and measuring subtle oscillations in a person’s standing posture. Eadweard Muybridge … READ MORE

Children with Charcot-Marie-Tooth respond to AFOs

Muscle weakness and instability associated with Charcot-Marie-Tooth disease in children can be addressed with ankle foot orthoses, research suggests, but practitioners should be aware of the limitations of AFOs in this patient … READ MORE

Mobility plays important role in development for toddlers with disabilities

Typical toddlers simultaneously spend about three hours a day in physical activity, play and engagement with objects such as toys, while their peers with mobility disabilities are less likely to engage in all of those behaviors at the … READ MORE

For parents of autistic children, more social support means better health

Concordia University research shows community care protects them against stress-induced immune problems. Une aide accrue réduit les troubles immunitaires liés au stress, indique une recherche de l’Université Concordia. Lisez … 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

Robotic device aids research for children with brain injury

Max Challoner, 12, demonstrates the KINARM robotic device at the Foothills Medical Centre in Calgary on Monday, April 4, 2016. Researchers Andrea Kuczynski and Dr. Adam Kirton helped develop the device which measures proprioception, … READ MORE

Autistic teen shows how tech transforms lives

Dillan Barmache can’t speak, but that doesn’t mean he doesn’t have anything to say. In fact, Dillan has complex and powerful thoughts, and thanks to easily accessible technology paired with innovative apps, you can hear his … READ MORE

Early focus on gross motor skills may benefit children with autism

Study finds link to social milestones. In children with autism spectrum disorder (ASD), lower fine and gross motor skills are associated with higher disease severity scores, according to new research that supports the concept of … READ MORE

AFO users must rethink concept of ‘normal’ gait

Ankle foot orthoses can make a neuromuscular patient’s gait pattern more like that of an unaffected person, but the devices can also be associated with compensations of their own. And in some patients, a more ‘normal’ gait … READ MORE

When to be concerned with your child’s development

Hey Mommies! Are you concerned with your child’s development? Have you gone through the monthly milestones and seen that your child isn’t meeting some? Have you then gotten worried that your child is delayed because they aren’t … READ MORE

It’s a horse, of course: equine therapy

The horse simulator was created at Rice’s Oshman Engineering Design Kitchen, where students have all the resources they need to design and build projects. Here, students Jaime Gomez and Amy Ryu prepare to test their device, intended … READ MORE

The Ability Hub

The Ability Hub is an initiative of The Sinneave Family Foundation. At The Ability Hub we are working to enhance Life for people living with Autism Spectrum Disorder through Innovation, Partnerships and Support. Our work is focused on … READ MORE

Don’t screen healthy Canadian kids for developmental delay

No benefit found for commonly used screening tools in kids without signs of problems. When doctors assess and monitor a child’s development at regular visits, it’s an opportunity for parents to raise any concerns. From … READ MORE

Children with medical complexity in Canada

The burden of chronic disease is placing pressure on the Canadian health care system. A small but important chronic disease population is children with medical complexity, defined as individuals with: high family-identified needs; … READ MORE

Exercise prescription for chronic conditions: A how-to guide

Exercise can be an effective component of treatment for many chronic conditions from knee osteoarthritis to type 2 diabetes, but physicians must be aware of the details of evidence-based interventions for the specific condition to … READ MORE

Without limits: Kids with special needs

For thousands of Calgary children, access to a good education, sports opportunities and exposure to the arts are a normal part of daily life. But for kids with special needs, many of those opportunities are out of reach. Holding hands … READ MORE

5 steps for parents to take after receiving a special-needs diagnosis

Hearing a diagnosis of special needs can generate a huge crush of emotions for many parents. We asked the experts at Children’s Link Society for some tips for those dealing with a diagnosis. Calgary Herald, March 18, 2016 1. Breathe … READ MORE

Life with Emily: The special people enriching the lives of special needs kids

Emily Pitchers, 16, adores her older sister, Lorcan, and they enrich each others lives with their relationship. Christina Ryan, Calgary Herald. By Christina Ryan, as told to Doug Hintz, Calgary Herald March 18, 2016 It is the simple … READ MORE

It lets them be free: Water therapy allows children with disabilities to dance

Emma, 12, who suffers from Rett Syndrome, enjoys her time in the pool at Emily Follensbee School with her Watsu therapist Tanya Salwach. Christina Ryan, Calgary Herald. By Annalise Klingbeil, Calgary Herald March 17, 2016 The … READ MORE

The power of music for special needs kids

Dylan Whitley, 16, who has been diagnosed with Autism and septo-optic dysplasia loves music. His keen ear, pitch perfect voice and talent for musical jingles keeps JB Music therapist Max Wood on his toes. Christina Ryan, Calgary … READ MORE

Vibration therapy improves mobility and strength in young people with cerebral palsy

Young adults with cerebral palsy enjoy stronger bones and greater mobility after training on a specialised vibration plate. Mobility-enhancing care in CP helps strengthen bones. Kids at the Atlanta center work on improving motor … READ MORE

Stroke rehabilitation program for adults and seniors: AFOs

Support and stability for people with drop foot due to stroke. Braceworks welcomes referrals for ankle-foot orthoses, AFOs. The Stroke Rehabilitation Program offers support for inpatients and outpatients in a number of Calgary … READ MORE

Improving foot posture, balance in CMT may aid ankle stability

Early care advised for FAI prevention. “…ankle sprains in children with CMT are not prevented adequately as the neurological condition is not often diagnosed in childhood, unless present in another family member. He noted that … READ MORE

Tablets and YouTube empower people with intellectual disability

A Concordia researcher underlines the lasting value of first-person storytelling. The distinction between doing research ‘with,’ and doing research ‘on’ is really important, says Ann-Louise Davidson, an associate professor in … READ MORE

iPad opens world to a disabled boy

OWEN CAIN depends on a respirator and struggles to make even the slightest movements — he has had a debilitating motor-neuron disease since infancy. Photo by Alene Tchekmedyian, L.A. Times By Emily B. Hager, The New York Times … READ MORE

Ankle-foot orthoses improve CP gait

Strategies alter ankle, knee kinematics. Floor-reaction ankle foot orthoses and wedge-based tuning significantly improve ankle and knee kinematics in children with cerebral palsy, according to separate studies from Greenvile, SC, and … READ MORE

A teenager who can’t speak finally sounds like himself

Electronic communication devices are evolving from robotic speech to personalized voices. Max Plansky is 16 years old, and like any teenager, he is trying to find his own voice. But for Max, the effort is complicated by the fact that … READ MORE

Rockers and rollovers: Implications for AFOs

Practitioners and researchers are redefining rocking and rolling as key components of gait, and designing ankle foot orthoses and other orthotic and prosthetic devices to specifically address impairments in the way certain patients … READ MORE

Biomechanics of propulsion: Implications for AFOs

For many patients, the ability of an ankle foot orthosis to enhance propulsion is key to improving gait efficiency and reducing fatigue. But experts are only beginning to understand the biomechanical complexities that influence … READ MORE

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