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Hippotherapy and Equine Therapy Programs in Michigan

Trust, joy, confidence, and connection with peers are important for any child. Different therapies can be used to facilitate those feelings for children with disabilities, including animal-assisted therapy. Fostering a bond between a human and animal can promote psychological, emotional, and physical well-being. Specifically, horses can help to facilitate those goals in therapies known as…

Research Suggests Early Postural Training Could Mitigate Symptoms of Cerebral Palsy

People with cerebral palsy (CP) often have problems with postural control, which can interfere with basic activities of daily life such as reaching, sitting, or walking. A lack of information on the developmental trajectory of these postural issues has made it difficult for medical professionals to optimize interventions. However, recent research provides some answers, which…

What’s Vibrational Therapy, and How Can It Help People with Cerebral Palsy?

Many people with cerebral palsy (CP) benefit greatly from physical therapy, which can improve functions such as strength and flexibility, and decrease negative symptoms such as pain. However, people with very severe motor and/or cognitive problems may be unable to follow instructions and perform voluntary exercises. This limits their treatment options outside of pharmacological and…

Could Fitness Trackers Help Children with Cerebral Palsy?

Researchers from the Queensland University of Technology (QUT) are testing the accuracy of commercially-available fitness trackers when worn by children. Young children differ greatly from adults in their energy usage. They are less efficient because they lack coordination, and because their resting metabolic rate is, on average, twice that of an adult. They can produce…

How can robots help people with physical disabilities?

Until recently, wearable robotic devices that could enhance a user’s physical abilities were largely the stuff of science fiction. Real-life prototypes existed, but were too costly, cumbersome, and uncomfortable for  “practical,” everyday use. However, new research hints at an imminent revolution in the design of robotic exoskeletons and other devices. Here, we review two studies…