Robot Therapy Shows Promise for Improving CP Symptoms

Posted on May 29, 2009 by David Austin

Engineers at MIT are finding that robot-based therapy can aid limb movement in children affected by cerebral palsy symptoms. Previous research has focused on how robotics can assist adults who have suffered stroke, but scientist Hermano Igo Krebs and colleagues wanted to test the therapy on children, whose brains are more impressionable.
 

Right now research is focused on using robotics to help children with cerebral palsy reach and grasp objects. According to the researchers, the robotic treatments are able to accomplish a couple of things:

  • To reduce impairment
  • To enable and create neural connections

One in 278 children in the United States has cerebral palsy, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) and research into treatments is ongoing.

 

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Celebrate Cerebral Palsy Awareness Month

Posted on March 7, 2009 by David Austin

Did you know that March is Cerebral Palsy Awareness Month? You can celebrate by raising awareness in your local community. There are various ways you can spread the word about cerebral palsy, including:

  • Coordinating outreach events
  • Submitting letters to the editors of local publications
  • Blogging about the condition

In addition, you can contact your local United Cerebral Palsy (UCP) affiliate to find out when and where any special events are being held. If you live in the Atlanta area, you might want to consider attending an event sponsored by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) on March 20th.

 

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What Is Cerebral Palsy? - New Podcast Provides Answers

Posted on February 12, 2009 by David Austin

If your child has been diagnosed with cerebral palsy, it’s likely you have lots of questions – the first of which is undoubtedly “what is cerebral palsy?” There are lots of great resources on the Web to help you answer this question, including a new podcast on the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention website.

The  CDC podcast describes the causes, preventions, types, and signs and symptoms of cerebral palsy and is part of one organization’s efforts to raise cerebral palsy awareness. That organization, Reaching for the Stars, has also partnered with the CDC to add a new cerebral palsy fact sheet to the agency’s website.

We recommend both the CDC and Reaching for the Stars websites as good starting places for learning more about CP and ways to get involved in raising awareness.

 

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