Neuroplasticity

Increased exercise could boost children’s cognitive skills, study suggests

Children who are fitter performed better than their peers in cognitive tasks, a new study found. Terri Anne Allen. Pixabay Nottingham Trent University 07 October 2021 Research by sports scientists at Nottingham Trent University showed … READ MORE

Markerless motion capture could help skeleton athletes’ training

Researchers from CAMERA have developed the first non-invasive way of measuring athletes’ push start performance. The research was done at the University’s push-track training facility on campus. University of Bath Vicky … READ MORE

Hypertonia and hypotonia – what’s the difference?

New parents have plenty on their minds. Baby’s health. Baby’s needs. Baby’s future. Muscles are way, way down on the list. But if your little one is facing developmental delays, muscle concerns are near the top. At first … READ MORE

Dyson award-winning orthosis counteracts hypertonia in children with Cerebral palsy

A 3D printed orthosis capable of counteracting the negative effects of hypertonia in children with cerebral palsy has won a national James Dyson Award. A child wearing the 3D printed ManiFlex orthosis. Hypertonia in the upper limb of … READ MORE

Nike’s new Flyease Go shoes snap right onto your feet

The breakthrough hinged design is made to be more accessible to everyone. In 2008, then-Nike CEO Mark Parker learned that the company’s first employee had suffered a stroke and lost the use of one hand. So Parker put one of his top … READ MORE

Autistic-friendly Scouts group: Calgary families find joy, acceptance and support

Infinity Scouts provides opportunities for achieving goals and family adventures. These beavers and cubs with Infinity Scouts are learning about irrigation and the best ways to transport water. Colleen Underwood CBC CBC News Calgary … 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

How teachers can help students with special needs navigate distance learning

Kids with disabilities are often shortchanged by pandemic classroom conditions. Here are three tips for educators to boost their engagement and connection. By Rebecca Branstetter, Greater Good Magazine, UC Berkeley October 19, 2020 … 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

Disability history scholar’s new book tells story of ‘money, marriage, and madness’

Ms. Magazine included the book on its list of ‘June 2020 Reads for the Rest of Us.’ Dr. Kim Nielsen, professor of disability studies, history and women’s and gender studies at The University of Toledo and author of … READ MORE

Equitable and free of barriers: Canada’s first gold-level certified accessible clinic opens its doors

With almost one in five Canadians living with a disability, accessibility and equitable treatment were top of mind for Adarsh Rao and Pinder Sahota, specialists in physical medicine and rehabilitation (physiatry), when they went … READ MORE

Program may have helped prevent five babies from developing cerebral palsy

A new study from SAHMRI and the University of Adelaide has found the number of children being born with cerebral palsy (CP) each year across Australia and New Zealand could be cut by more than 20, if hospitals improve their practices … READ MORE

Tobii TD Pilot brings gaze-based typing, text-to-speech and app navigation to iPad

TD Pilot is an eye-controlled communication device for iPad. Designed to empower people with conditions such as ALS/MND, spinal cord injury or cerebral palsy to communicate and use their favourite apps, this iPadOS-based speech … READ MORE

New treatment to regain hand and arm function after spinal cord injury

Using physical therapy combined with a noninvasive method of stimulating nerve cells in the spinal cord, University of Washington researchers helped six Seattle area participants regain some hand and arm mobility. That increased … READ MORE

Student designs smart mobility aid for people with dementia

According to Alzheimer’s Research UK, one million people in the UK will have dementia by 2025 and this will increase to two million by 2050. This increase is a real concern, especially as the care system is already under strain. … READ MORE

Plans revealed for $12M disability arts venue in northwest Calgary

National AccessArts Centre to be constructed on Brownsea Drive NW An artist’s rendering shows what the new National accessArts Centre in northwest Calgary will look like. In-Definite Arts Society. CBC CBC News Calgary August 10, … READ MORE

Science backs nature as key to children’s health

The presence of greenspaces near homes and schools is strongly associated with improved physical activity and mental health outcomes in kids, according to a massive review of data from nearly 300 studies. Leo Rivas on Unsplash … 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

Why getting more people with disabilities developing technology is good for everyone

Accessible technology is better for everyone, and accessible technology benefits when the people who rely on it most help build it. Parapan Athlete Tiana Knight demonstrates Blindsquare, an iPhone app that helps blind people by … READ MORE

Paralympics haven’t decreased barriers to physical activity for most people with disabilities

Tokyo 2020: how the Paralympics have evolved from rehabilitation to spectacle. Shaped by evolving societal attitudes towards physical and mental impairment, the Paralympics have gone from championing rehabilitation to being the second … READ MORE

Adults with Cerebral Palsy need better access to health care

Once viewed as a pediatric condition, patients with cerebral palsy are aging, but the health care system is not prepared to offer them the care they need. University of Michigan Kylie Urban, Univeristy of Michigan Health Lab January … READ MORE

Taking the brain out for a walk

A recent study shows that spending time outdoors has a positive effect on our brains. If you’re regularly out in the fresh air, you’re doing something good for both your brain and your well-being. Emma Simpson, Unsplash … READ MORE

Calgary woman, who’s paralyzed, kayaks whitewater rapids on Lower Kananaskis River

‘I’m sitting on the shoulders of giants right now, it’s so awesome,’ says Andrea Wojcik. Andrea Wojcik, who is paralyzed from the chest down, uses a modified kayak to paddle down the Lower Kananaskis River. Connie … READ MORE

Meet the man behind Nike’s Flyease shoes

Nike’s new, first truly-hands free shoe, The Nike Go FlyEase, is a reality because in 2012 a teen with cerebral palsy didn’t want his classmates tying his shoes. Matthew Walzer, 16 at the time, wrote a letter to Nike outlining his … READ MORE

Nintendo Wii may help improve balance in children with cerebral palsy

Therapy based on the Nintendo® Wii Balance Board can help improve balance in children with cerebral palsy, according to an analysis published in Developmental Medicine & Child Neurology. Wii Fit for balance and stamina. Watch the … READ MORE

Paralympic athletes break down barriers on Great Trail of Canada

Athletes assessed 13 sections of trail across the country. Camille Bérubé mapped out the Capital Pathway in Ottawa and Gatineau on her handcycle for the accessibility project. She said she tried to imagine what the trail would be … 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

Disability advocates call for easier access to ‘life-changing’ technology

Assistive devices can improve quality of life, but their high cost keeps them out of reach for many. Tammy Martin’s eSight helps her magnify images, as well as change their colour, contrast and focus. Tammy Martin Feleshia … READ MORE

Disabled researcher calls for better support for faculty

Academic institutions need to do much more to support faculty members with disabilities and to create an environment in which they can thrive, argues a commentary published May 18 in the journal Trends in Neurosciences. Breaking … READ MORE

Zen and the art of adaptive surfing

Catching a wave creates a visceral connection with ocean and energy. As your board accelerates, time slows and you enter a Zen state of “here and now.” By ride’s end, your brain is flooded with endorphins. Whether it’s your … READ MORE

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