Category Archives: Cerebral Palsy Treatment

From left, Don Tomford, Chief Department Administrator, Department of Neurosurery at the University of Michigan Health System, David Hockenbrocht, President of MedSAU, Ron Griffith, Director of External Relations and Special Assistant to the President, Lynda Yang, clinical associate professor of neurological surgery and board-certified surgeon at the University of Michigan Health System, Rod Stewart, Associate Provost, Chuck Webb, President, Brent Ellis, VP for University Advancement, Kimberly Rupert, Provost, Roger Varland, Interim Dean of Arts & Science and Craig Hayward, Professor of Health, Human Performance & Recreation. View and purchase photos The number of children impacted by this debilitating condition rivals cerebral palsy one to four of every 1,000 children born in the United States. However, unlike cerebral palsy, NBPP is largely unknown. This anonymity results in a dearth of research as well as treatment options for children who are afflicted. We believe the affiliation between Spring Arbor University and the University of Michigan Health System program would not only result in much-needed research to address this debilitating condition, but will also develop the ways and means to improve the quality of life of these patients through new solutions for the management of treatment for NBPP, said Dr. Charles Webb, Spring … Continue reading →

Jack Carroll is a 14-year-old stand-up comedian. He also happens to have cerebral palsy, which is the central theme of his act. The teen recently appeared on the television show, Britains Got Talent, and received a standing ovation. But its not because hes good for a kid,hes just talented. And fearless. As Carroll explained to the U.K.'s Daily Mirror, If I can laugh at myself and make people laugh, maybe they will not be scared to talk about disability. Cerebral palsy is a physical disability that affects the way a person moves. Its caused most often by a brain injury or abnormality sustained in utero or early childhood. Nonetheless, the resulting degree of impairment varies widely. In Jacks case, he requires the help of a walker to stand and move. There is no cure for CP, but treatment is often helpful for improving motor skills. Nonetheless, based on his parents' interview, Jack Carroll doesn't really care. His focus is on sharpening his comedic skills. And if that means openly talking about his own disability, he's fine with it. As he explained on the video, A lot of times in comedy, your weaknesses are your strengths. What do you think of … Continue reading →

Newswise BIRMINGHAM, Ala., - Researchers at the University of Alabama at Birmingham (UAB) report that children with cerebral palsy who underwent Constraint Induced Movement therapy (CI therapy) saw a significant increase in grey matter volume in areas of the brain associated with movement. The findings, published online April 22, 2013 in Pediatrics, are the first to show that structural remodeling of the brain occurs during rehabilitation in a pediatric population. It is well understood that CI therapy produces a re-wiring of the brain, leading to functional improvement in motor skills in children and adults who have experienced a brain injury, said Edward Taub, Ph.D., the developer of CI therapy and a study co-author. This study reinforces the idea that CI therapy also remodels the brain, producing a real, physical change in the brain. Grey matter is a component of the central nervous system, consisting primarily of neuronal cell bodies, glial cells and dendrites. The study examined ten children with cerebral palsy, between the ages of 2 and 7, who underwent a three week course of CI therapy. Changes in grey matter were assessed with a technique called voxel-based morphometry (VBM), performed on images acquired through magnetic resonance imaging. We saw … Continue reading →

By Helen Carroll PUBLISHED: 16:39 EST, 19 April 2013 | UPDATED: 05:23 EST, 20 April 2013 Cheeky chappie: Jack Carroll on last Saturday's Britain's Got Talent As the sweet-faced young man took to the Britains Got Talent stage last Saturday, creeping on with the aid of a walking frame, you could feel the audience hold its collective breath. What was he doing there? And how would Simon Cowell and the rest of the judges treat him? They had no need to be uneasy. The moment 14-year-old Jack Carroll who suffers from cerebral palsy opened his mouth, he had the judges, audience and nine million viewers at home in stitches with his self-deprecating stand-up routine. Dark-haired and bespectacled, his opening gambit was: I know what youre all thinking: Harry Potter has had a nasty quidditch accident. The audience guffawed. And suddenly, Jack was on a roll. Later in the set, he asked: You know what I cant stand?, before adding, Sorry, let me re-emphasise. You know what? I cant stand. While the crowd were deciding whether to laugh or shed a tear, he added: But look on the bright side, Ive never had to queue at Disneyland, which led to even … Continue reading →

Action comes in response to increasing number of consumer inquiries about legal rights to compensation involving allegations of medical malpractice and birth injuries. San Diego, CA (PRWEB) April 20, 2013 Resource4thePeople announced today that its nationwide team of lawyers is now accepting inquiries from consumers about the possibility of cerebral palsy lawsuits over allegations of birth defects that may have been caused by medical malpractice. In response to a significant number of consumer inquiries from families who have had infants born with cerebral palsy and other birth problems we are now accepting cerebral palsy claims, said Resource4thePeople spokesman William Howell. Our national network of attorneys is experienced in the area of medical malpractice and is now offering free consultations to families who contact us about their cases and whether they may be entitled to compensation for medical costs and other expenses. Howell said some families may be eligible for compensation in cases in which their infants have been diagnosed with cerebral palsy if medical mistakes were made during the birthing process. Families place the care of the mother and infant during the birthing process in the hands of medical practitioners with the trust that these professionals will meet the accepted … Continue reading →

A new technique being heralded as a breakthrough could have significant implications for the treatment of cerebral palsy. Researchers say theyve found a way to transform ordinary skin cells into brain cells that are missing or damaged in individuals with cerebral palsy and related disorders like multiple sclerosis. In such conditions, so-called myelinating cells which help the brain send instructions to the rest of the body cannot naturally be replaced. In a study published Sunday in the journal Nature Biotechnology, scientists say they have successfully used the technique to alter cells from mice and are now looking to test it on human cells. The approach dubbed cellular reprogramming is particularly promising, researchers say, because it relies on fibroblasts, a type of cell found in skin and many organs, that is abundantly available. We are taking a readily accessible and abundant cell and completely switching its identity to become a highly valuable cell for therapy, said Paul Tesar, assistant professor of genetics and genome sciences at Case Western Reserve School of Medicine and a senior author of the study. Read the original here: Study Points To Treatment For Cerebral Palsy … Continue reading →

Photo by: AP Photo/The MetroWest Daily News, Allan Jung In this April 8, 2013 photo, Dick Hoyt, left, talks with his son Rick as he wheels him next to a statue dedicated in their honor in front of the Center School in Hopkinton, Mass. Dick has pushed his son Rick, who is a quadriplegic and has cerebral palsy, along the 26.2-mile Boston Marathon route for 30 years. They plan to compete again in Monday's race. Image HOLLAND, Mass. (AP) The year was 1992, and Dick Hoyt and his son, Rick, wanted to run and bike across the country to raise funds for a charity for cerebral palsy a condition 30-year-old Rick developed at birth. But the charity didn't want anything to do with a trek across the United States. "And, uh, so this insurance company that was going to finance us backed out with four weeks to go before so we had to refinance our house here so we are able to pick up the expenses," Dick Hoyt recalled recently, sitting next to his quadriplegic son at their home in the hills of western Massachusetts. Twenty-one years later, after running, biking and swimming together in some of the world's highest-profile … Continue reading →

The year was 1992, and Dick Hoyt and his son, Rick, wanted to run and bike across the country to raise funds for a charity for cerebral palsy a condition 30-year-old Rick developed at birth. But cerebral palsy didnt want anything to do with a trek across the United States. And, uh, so this insurance company that was going to finance us backed out with four weeks to go before so we had to refinance our house here so we are able to pick up the expenses, Dick Hoyt recalled recently, sitting next to his quadriplegic son at their home in the hills of western Massachusetts. Twenty-one years later, after running, biking and swimming together in some of the worlds highest-profile competitions, 73-year-old father and 51-year-old son are among the most recognized faces at the granddaddy of them all the Boston Marathon. One of the races sponsors recently unveiled a life-size statue in their honor in the town where the race starts. Another backer, Timex, pushed so strongly to be identified with the duo that it would allow them to talk to The Associated Press only if the article mentioned the two are promoting the watch makers social media campaign. … Continue reading →

ARDSLEY, NY (TheStreet) -- Acorda Therapeutics (ACOR) announced mixed results from two proof-of-concept studies Monday aimed at expanding the use of its multiple sclerosis walking drug Ampyra to include patients suffering from strokes and cerebral palsy. In a study of 83 patients who had experienced a stroke at least six months prior to enrollment, use of twice-daily Ampyra significantly improved walking ability compared to a placebo, Acorda said in a statement. The company didn't provide detailed data on Ampyra's efficacy Three patients reported seizures during the study. One seizure occurred in a patient treated with a placebo. The two other seizure cases involved patients on Ampyra, although one was deemed an intentional overdose and suicide attempt. "There were clear efficacy signals in the [Ampya] post-stroke deficits trial and we therefore plan to proceed with a clinical development program for this indication," said Acorda CEO Ron Cohen. To order reprints of this article, click here: Reprints EXCLUSIVE OFFER: Jim Cramer's Protg, Dave Peltier, only buys Stocks Under $10 that he thinks could potentially double. See what he's trading today with a 14-day FREE pass. Continue reading here: Acorda Drug Helps Stroke Patients Walk Better … Continue reading →

HOLLAND The year was 1992, and Dick Hoyt and his son, Rick, wanted to run and bike across the country to raise funds for a charity for cerebral palsy a condition 30-year-old Rick developed at birth. But cerebral palsy didnt want anything to do with a trek across the United States. And, uh, so this insurance company that was going to finance us backed out with four weeks to go before so we had to refinance our house here so we are able to pick up the expenses, Dick Hoyt recalled recently, sitting next to his quadriplegic son at their home. Twenty-one years later, after running, biking and swimming together in some of the worlds highest-profile competitions, 73-year-old father and 51-year-old son are among the most recognized faces at the Boston Marathon. One of the races sponsors recently unveiled a life-size statue in their honor in the town where the race starts. Another backer, Timex, pushed so strongly to be identified with the duo that it would allow them to talk to The Associated Press only if the article mentioned the two are promoting the watch makers social media campaign. Theyve gone from being skeptics dogged by veiled references about … Continue reading →