Neuroplasticity

Canada Paralympic success inspires young Alberta sledge hockey athletes

Novice players gathered in Calgary to watch gold medal game on Saturday. The Paralympics have wrapped up in Pyeongchang, and Canada’s success is giving a group of young sledge hockey players inspiration that they too will one … READ MORE

Coach Ken Babey found new beginning with Canada’s para ice hockey team

63-year-old will lead Canadian squad into gold-medal showdown with U.S. Head coach Ken Babey, left, will guide Canada’s para ice hockey team in the gold-medal game against the United States at the Gangneung Hockey Centre on … READ MORE

Hawking won the world’s respect – and gave disabled people like me hope

Growing up disabled, I had few role models. But this brilliant, witty scientist helped shift the negative stereotypes many face. “It just seemed that cosmology was more exciting, because it really did seem to involve the big … READ MORE

We’re not addicted to smartphones, we’re addicted to social interaction

Neurobiology of mobile-device habits stems from a healthy human need to socialize, rooted in evolution, McGill researchers find. Phubbing – Social rules of courtesy for the use of smartphones must be created. Protectora Justin … READ MORE

Brian McKeever’s ‘relentless’ drive leads to historic Paralympic gold

Canmore, Alberta cross-country skier earns record 14th medal. Canada’s Brian McKeever cemented his legacy as Canada’s most successful Winter Paralympian with his 14th-career medal. Carl Recine, Reuters Vicki Hall, CBC … READ MORE

Paralympics give athletes another chance at reaching highest level

Regardless of how they got here, many Canadians have similar goals. Canada’s Paralympic team marches into the Pyeongchang athletes’ village for an official Canadian flag raising ceremony today in advance of the Games. Sasa … READ MORE

Simulated horseback riding helpful in treating children with cerebral palsy

Robotically assisted hippotherapy, a type of therapy that simulates the repetitive and rhythmic movement of a horse, has the potential to improve trunk control and quality of life for children with cerebral palsy, according to science … READ MORE

Markin undergrads get first-hand experience using cutting-edge robotic technology

Markin USRP students Ash Kolstad, left, and Justin Tan combine neuroscience research with technology under the mentorship of Tyler Cluff, seated. Stephanie Vahaaho, University of Calgary University of Calgary students Justin Tan and … READ MORE

Home is where the heart is for Alana Ramsay

Canadian alpine skier aiming to end World Cup season on a high in Kimberley. Alana Ramsay is a four-time world championship medallist. Andrea Carloni for the IPC International Paralympic Committee February 7, 2018 Canadian Alana … READ MORE

Arm exercise improves walking ability after stroke

A new study shows that arm exercises may improve walking ability months and even years after having a stroke. The study tested the influence of arm training on post-stroke leg function. Jose Rodriguez Jr. performs his daily exercises … READ MORE

Experimental therapy could boost stroke recovery

Spinal injection and rehabilitation efforts shown to increase connections between the brain and spinal cord. Anna Wiersma and Ian Winship found they were able to enhance stroke recovery in an animal model by inducing amplified … READ MORE

Rhythmic auditory cueing improves gait in CP patients

Rhythmic auditory entrainment — a process that provides a timing cue for a biological rhythm — improves gait performance in patients with cerebral palsy (CP), research from Germany suggests. The study was published in the journal … READ MORE

Bad habits, not a bad brain, affect many cerebral palsy patients

Just sitting upright is a battle for two-year-old Jack Pankratz, and so his mother Kim Kucher offers a steady hand and lots of encouragement. Two-year old, Jack, who suffers from cerebral palsy, lays on a couch in the home of … READ MORE

Calgary kids with disabilities enjoy ‘Go Baby Go’ program

Angelina Shirley was beaming as she watched her three-year-old daughter Sadie drive a toy car for the very first time. Toy cars children can drive around in are a lot of fun for the little ones. And as Gil Tucker shows us, for some … READ MORE

Adapted physical activity in our community – Guest speakers, February 5, 2018

Camilla Borregaard Voigt & Rasmus Hjorth Peterson. Specialists in adaptive physical activity programming – particularly for people with Cerebral Palsy – with the Elsass Institute in Denmark. Camilla and Rasmus will be sharing … READ MORE

In chronic disease care, family helpers are key, but feel left out

Physicians and policymakers should consider those family and friends who aren’t quite caregivers — but are definitely health supporters — in chronic disease care, a new study finds. Kara Gavin, Michigan Health Lab January 12, … READ MORE

People with tetraplegia gain rapid use of brain-computer interface

A new approach to calibrating the pioneering BrainGate brain-computer interface allowed three clinical trial participants with tetraplegia to gain control of a computer cursor after just one simple calibration step. Brain power. A … READ MORE

A smart phone app for cerebral palsy screening

Early diagnosis appears key for physiotherapy interventions for cerebral palsy, so researchers have developed an app for parents to video their child for remote screening. Baby Lexi Polonidis is taking part in the Baby Moves and VICS … READ MORE

Health Canada approves Dysport to treat kids with cerebral palsy

Health Canada has approved Dysport (abobotulinumtoxinA) for the treatment of leg spasticity in children and teens ages 2 and older, including those with cerebral palsy. Six months ago, 13-year-old Georges Vermast rode her bike for the … READ MORE

Botox treatments may help your child with spastic CP

Spastic CP means the muscles are tense and tight. This occurs because the brain is not sending the right signals to the muscles. Muscle stiffness affects all aspects of the child’s activities of daily living. A four-year-old who has … READ MORE

Physical challenges no barrier to Calgary policing career

For one girl dreaming of a career in policing, a day spent with Calgary police showed her the possibilities are limitless. Eleven-year-old Erin Donaldson gets fingerprinted at the Youthlink Calgary Police Interpretive Centre as part … READ MORE

Task training seems to improve hand dexterity in kids with cerebral palsy

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 … READ MORE

Leaning into the Ogo – seated Segway

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 … READ MORE

Seeking one giant leap for a child’s mobility

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) … READ MORE

Toy cars help kids with disabilities explore movement

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 … READ MORE

Gear hacks: setting up a DIY workspace

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 … READ MORE

Woman with eye-tracking software communicates with mom for first time since 1996

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 … READ MORE

Shape-shifting wheelchair transforms from seated to standing

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 … READ MORE

The digital puppy that keeps seniors out of nursing homes

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 … READ MORE

Christmas BA magic for Finlay!

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 … READ MORE

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