Rehab engineering
Technical solutions for a range of assistive devices for individuals with disabilities
Very little in life slows Jillian Peters down. If you catch her in a hallway, the spunky seven-year-old is likely to race you in her hot-pink wheelchair. Cerebral palsy doesn’t define her. Video games are helping children with
… READ MOREResearchers at the University of Michigan (UM) are implementing a new orthotics and prosthetics outfitting system: 3D printed assistive devices that will be customized to individual patients’ needs and reach them faster than ever
… READ MOREKnee pain is common in children with CP, but given the many health challenges facing this patient population, knee symptoms may not be given high priority. Proper diagnosis and treatment of knee pain, however, can be key to maximizing
… READ MOREEven though learning to waltz had been a lifelong dream for Sarah Cauley, she cancelled just one day before her first lesson. She was unable to open her hand enough for someone to hold it, and was afraid no one would want to try.
… READ MOREA person’s gait affects his or her entire body; movement that causes stress in too many places lead to pain, or injury. However, if a comprehensive motion and gait analysis is performed by a qualified professional, the nature of a
… READ MOREIt all started when I was in rehab dealing with a particularly insensitive sales rep from a major mobility company who seemed far more concerned with an upcoming Hawaiian vacation than properly outfitting me with my first wheelchair.
… READ MOREHelping patients manage an orthotic device can be challenging, but doing so in the face of uneven terrain is a balancing act between stability, mobility, and strength. Device adjustments and rehabilitation protocols can help
… READ MOREFor teens with scoliosis, a new study shows specialized physical therapy exercises can improve the curve of the spine, muscle endurance and quality of life, as researchers advocate for conservative management to be added to the
… READ MOREProduct design consultancy Renfrew Group, in partnership with the NHS unveiled the innovative modular children’s wheelchair ‘Chair 4 Life’ system designed to address the unmet needs of disabled children at the
… READ MOREOn Dec. 21, 2016, Aron Anderson, a Swedish man, became the first person to reach the South Pole by sit ski. Anderson, a wheelchair user as a result of childhood cancer, completed a 21-day journey that took him some 398 miles from the
… READ MOREJames has a life-threatening condition, but he’s desperate to leave his mark on the world. An amazing new device could help him create a very personal legacy. James Dunn, from Whiston, and his newly-adapted camera, with, left to
… READ MOREWHILL, the leader in intelligent personal electric vehicles (EVs), presents its new FDA-cleared vehicle, the Model M, at the 2017 Consumer Electronics Show. Whill, January 4, 2017 The Model M features patented omni-wheel technology to
… READ MORERehab pioneer Dr. Geoff Fernie’s innovative path from making Pink Floyd, Cream and other rock stars look good, to doing good for millions of people with disabilities. Dr. Geoff Fernie explains how FallsLab enables researchers to
… READ MORE‘It’s been really neat to watch because we never thought we would see it.’ Evelyn Moore, an Edmonton toddler who suffered paralysis after a tumour developed on her spine, is now standing on her own two feet with the
… READ MOREGreg McMeekin’s dreams are a lot like other people’s: to live independently, travel, have a family and a job he loves. Greg McMeekin smiles while called to the bar during a ceremony at Calgary Courts Centre in Calgary, Alta., on
… READ MOREUnlike most cold-climate wheelers, Dave Kott can’t wait until the first snowfall at his Minnesota home. It’s then that he can put to the test his newly improved, homemade snow plow that runs with the use of actuators, similar to
… READ MOREAlex Ghenis, Paula Larson, Ian Jaquiss and Ellen Stohl are four very different people with disabilities — with one similarity in common: Each agreed to share a day of their lives, taking us on a tour of what do they do, where they
… READ MOREToyota and Segway inventor Dean Kamen have teamed to produce this stair-climbing, self-balancing, all-terrain mobility ninja. iBOT – An advanced mobility system restoring freedom and dignity. DEKA Research BBC 25 May 2016 A
… READ MORESome cerebral palsy cases caused by genetic anomalies, not just brain injury: study. Antony Kelly Photo 570 News Larissa Pavone MD, Deborah Gaebler-Spira MD, Donald McGovern CPO FAAOP, Steven Makovitch MD, Stefania Fatone PhD,
… READ MOREThe Liftware Level is a motorized utensil that automatically bends itself to counteract involuntary hand movements, to allow people afflicted with disorders like Parkinson’s and Huntington’s disease to feed themselves.
… READ MOREMaayan Ziv was born with muscular dystrophy which she says has helped her build up a sense of resilience. “People assume that I’m a sweet little girl who has nice dreams,” she says wryly, “watch me kill that
… READ MOREJust like other children learn how to crawl, Evelyn slowly figured out how to wheel. Evelyn Moore at Treehouse, an indoor playground in northeast Edmonton that she often visits with her mom. With no wheelchairs small enough for baby
… READ MOREClassical ballet classes may help improve balance while enhancing social skills in school-aged children with cerebral palsy (CP), according to a new study. Ballet Academy East, New York. Photo Rosalie-O’Connor Joana Fernandes PhD,
… READ MOREThe Calgary Protocol: bracing for Pectus carinatum. Braceworks UCSF Benioff Children’s Hospital November 26, 2016 – Updated July 2021 Pectus carinatum is characterized by a protrusion of the sternum that occurs as a result
… READ MOREThis past Tuesday, I rolled by my local wheelchair shop to make a small chair adjustment. I’ve recently been working with one of the staff members to rebuild my backrest in a way that would give me better posture, and I wanted one
… READ MOREBraces for people with scoliosis can be awkward, cumbersome and even painful. A good fit is crucial, especially since the brace is often worn day and night. Young girls that suffer from spinal curvature will soon be able to wear
… READ MOREA teenager from Hemel Hempstead, Hertfordshire born with a rare condition known as ‘pigeon chest’ is now standing taller than his twin brother after undergoing an innovative new treatment to correct the condition. James
… READ MOREBoth orthoses reduce pain and improve gait anomalies in medial compartment knee OA. Our results suggest a laterally wedged insole can be an alternative conservative approach to unloader knee orthosis for treating symptoms of medial
… READ MOREPeople living longer, and having fewer kids, means that there’s an issue around being able to hire enough people to perform essential jobs. Not to mention, of course, that the tax base will inevitably shrink, reducing the money
… READ MOREGait in children with Cerebral Palsy (CP) is often characterized by abnormal gait biomechanics, such as excessive knee flexion during stance. Associated with such gait deviations, an elevated walking energy cost is often observed,
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