Occupational therapy

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

Accessible tech opens doors for people with disabilities

Embracing life on wheels. No matter what type of cerebral palsy a person has, it limits their independence to a certain extent. Independence is amazing, especially when you have such a limited range of freedom. Technology has improved … 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

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

Augmented reality lets doctors see under a patient’s skin

3D models from CT and MRI scans are projected onto patients as they move, for accuracy in surgery, rehab, and education. ProjectDR is an augmented reality system that allows medical images such as CT scans and MRI data to be displayed … 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

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

New research reveals how gardeners can dig for health without injury

New research from Coventry University and the Royal Horticultural Society (RHS) reveals that a bad digging technique can as much as double the load on the joints in the body, leaving people susceptible to chronic injuries. Coventry … 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

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

Mend the heart. All else will follow. Creative Options Regina creates new life for many with disabilities

Creative Options Regina works with others in the community to connect individuals and families to whatever services are required. Andrew Ronnie (left) and Michael Lavis, executive director of Creative Options Regina — a no-profit … READ MORE

Video game system helps physical therapists, athletic trainers

Motion-based lab technology can help physical therapists, clinicians and athletic trainers analyze how we move—it also is very expensive. Some motion labs can cost upward of $100,000. Now, a team of University of Missouri … READ MORE

Umbilical cord blood improves motor skills in some children with cerebral palsy

Randomized clinical trial shows improved motor function in children infused with own cells. An infusion of cells from a child’s own umbilical cord blood appears to improve brain connectivity and motor function in children with … READ MORE

Calgary’s first fully automated apartments for people with disabilities

‘If you take those obstacles away, you no longer need help,’ Mike Dummer says. Calgary’s first fully automated assisted living apartment building, Inclusio, will feature 45 studio apartments with common living spaces for … READ MORE

Video game improves balance in youth with autism

Playing a video game that rewards participants for holding various “ninja” poses could help children and youth with autism spectrum disorder (ASD) improve their balance, according to a recent study in the Journal of Autism and … READ MORE

Grip aid for daily living with special needs

At last, a simple hygienic way for people with hand problems to hold eating utensils, cups, writing implements, sports equipment, and toys. Adelynn Zeuner holds a fork to eat peaches with the aid of an EazyHold band developed by a … READ MORE

Sensor-equipped glove takes the guesswork out of measuring spasticity

Everyone experiences stiff muscles from time to time, whether after a rigorous workout, in cold weather, or after falling asleep in an unusual position. People with cerebral palsy, stroke and multiple sclerosis, however, live with … READ MORE

Queen’s engineering students develop bicycle for teen with cerebral palsy

Janessa Gerhardt has a bicycle that suits her limited range of motion thanks to the work of, from left, students Elizabeth Hoskin, Louise Munro, Andrew Gowthorpe, as well as Claire Davies (Mechanical and Materials Engineering), and … READ MORE

Music therapy for children with autism has positive outcome

It might not surprise that good relationships create good outcomes, as meaningful relational experiences are crucial to all of us in our everyday life. However, the development of a relationship with a child with autism may be … READ MORE

Can you design a home to foster good health? These students are trying

Associate professor Dak Kopec with eyewear that simulates a visual disorder, as he leads a discussion during his class Built Environment and Human Health at University of Nevada Las Vegas, Tuesday Oct 3, 2017. Bridget Bennett for … READ MORE

Buildathon volunteers assemble devices for Calgarians with disabilities

For many Canadians with disabilities, it’s the little things that make day-to-day living a bit harder. Federal Disabilities Minister Kent Hehr gets a demonstration of the LipSync, a device that allows users to control computers … READ MORE

A country for all children to thrive

As Canadians, we pride ourselves on our commitment to inclusion and diversity. Yet, when it comes to disabilities, this pride doesn’t match reality. Put simply – rather than inclusion, the every day experience of many … READ MORE

Student with cerebral palsy uses iPad to communicate

There’s an app for just about everything now. From social media to games, it’s changed the way we communicate. And that couldn’t be truer for this week’s Kylies Kid. Joe has many friends at his middle school, a busy social … READ MORE

Todd Stabelfeldt: Titan of tech

Todd Stabelfeldt is a busy man these days. When not traveling all over the country delivering powerful speeches like “Convenience for You is Independence for Me” — at Apple’s Worldwide Developers Conference in San Jose last … READ MORE

Designing cardboard hacks to modify wheelchairs

Temple occupatonal therapy students work to design a new wheelchair tray for Eddie at HMS School for Children with Cerebral Palsy. Working with cardboard, the students are able to create quick and inexpensive solutions customized to … READ MORE

Engaging older adults through touch tablets

Switched-on seniors. Involving end–users in the design of new technology has worked wonders for older Australians. Swinburne researchers developed an iPad-based, picture-frame system that allows older people to receive photographs … READ MORE

7-year-old’s mystery illness baffles specialists

Gracie Lee Straus loves taking photographs of people and turning them into jigsaw puzzles on her iPad — from her friends and teachers to her doctors, nurses and therapists. She loves puzzles, even the old-fashioned, hands-on ones. … READ MORE

How magic tricks help children with cerebral palsy

For children with hemiplegia, a common form of cerebral palsy, learning to be a magician is remarkably effective therapy — as attendees at the Breathe Magic summer camp find out. A child at Breathe Magic. Photographs: Graeme … READ MORE

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