The exoskeletons are more than just a brace; they actively support a walking posture in kids with cerebral palsy without taking control away from the children themselves. The team wants to do more long-term studies to see if kids' walking will improve over time by using the robotic assistive devices. They also want to see if using exoskeletons for gait training can improve natural walking, even without the exoskeleton. "We want to transfer the walking patterns we see with the exoskeleton to walking without the exoskeleton," the NIH's Thomas Bulea told StatNews. "If we can correct or treat this crouch gait at a young age, then throughout their life, we may be able to increase their mobility." Exoskeletons aren't new, of course. Lowe's has been testing prototypes to help workers lift heavy objects, Harvard has a soft unit that could help soldiers with heavy packs, Lockheed Martin has tested exoskeletons for the US Navy and Hyundai is looking for ways to make them less expensive. This is the first study to bring the concept to children with cerebral policy, however, and could end up helping tons of kids for their entire lives. See more here: Robotic exoskeletons improve mobility for … Continue reading →

A step in the right direction Functional and Applied Biomechanics Section, Rehabilitation Medicine Dept, National Institutes of Health Clinical Center By Timothy Revell If you are a child with the most common childhood physical disability, cerebral palsy, there is only a 50 per cent chance that you will still be able to walk as an adult. Robotic exoskeletons may just be about to change that. Some clinics already have bulky robotic devices that support children with cerebral palsy so they can practise walking. But these are usually attached to a ceiling pulley system and so cannot be used at home. The new device, developed at the National Institutes of Health in Maryland, is completely mobile. Sensors on the exoskeleton legs monitor each step, which is then processed by a computer housed in a backpack. At just the right moment, the exoskeletons actuators fire to give a muscular boost, improving posture and easing the strain. Advertisement Cerebral palsy is caused by damage to or abnormalities in the developing brain, which lead to movement difficulties. Though many children with cerebral palsy are able to walk, the condition often causes crouch gait, or overbending of the knees. This walking technique requires more strength … Continue reading →

In the first clip, the boy appears to drag his feet as he walks, while his kneesparticularly the left onestay bent throughout his steps. In the second clip, his knees remain bowed inward. But his legsnow clad in a robotic exoskeletonswing more as they move, and his feet lift off the ground and his knees bend and flex in time with his step. The boy is one of seven children with cerebral palsy who were outfitted withexoskeletonsin hopes that the robotic devices could improve their crouched posture, making it easier for them to take simple steps. Those steps will otherwise become more difficult over time; 50 percent of people with cerebral palsy stop walking when they reach adulthood. Ina studypublished Wednesday in the journal Science Translational Medicine, researchers reported that the exoskeletons helped most participants straighten their legs as they walked, alleviating the permanent knee bend that causes the crouching disorder known as crouch gait. The researchers also found that while the exoskeletons provided support when it was needed, participants were still in control of their own steps. The study was an initial attempt to show that exoskeleton technology should be explored further as a tool to help children with … Continue reading →

Cerebral Palsy Cerebral palsy, or CP, is a chronic neurological disorder that impairs body movement, coordination, and balance. The condition appears in infancy or early childhood, with most cases diagnosed by the time a child turns three. It is the most common motor disability in childhood, and around 764,000 children and adults are currently living with CP in the U.S. Cerebral palsy does not always cause impaired cognitive ability. However, as many as 50% of all children living with CP have some level of cognitive impairment requiring additional levels of care. Cerebral palsy is not life-threatening or contagious. Although there is currently no cure for the disorder, there are many treatments that can improve a patients motor capabilities and quality of life. With the exception of severe cases, most children with CP live long lives. Cerebral palsy is caused by a non-progressive brain injury or malformation that occurs while the brain is developing. Most cases of CP result before a child is born, but in some instances, a young child can develop the condition as a result of brain damage from an accident or an infection that inhibits proper blood flow. Symptoms of cerebral palsy vary. At its core, the … Continue reading →

DAISY Mason has defied doctors who said she would never walk or swim by completing a triathlon. The six-year-old, who has quadriplegic cerebral palsy, swam 100m, triked 1km and ran 3km in her wheelchair in Windsor, Berks. SWNS:South West News Service SWNS:South West News Service Dad Adam, 32, from Kings Lynn, Norfolk, who gave her a little hand, said: "We're so proud of our little girl. "She did absolutely brilliantly and everybody was so happy for her. "She's a medical wonder and we're so excited that she's going to take part in another event next month, Parallel London." Delighted mum Lucy, 36, added: "She's done an amazing job and we couldn't be any more proud of her. "We refused to believe the NHS physio who said she had reached her full potential - this shows what motivation and a loving home can really do. "Everybody who meets her loves her, she's like a little ray of sunshine. SWNS:South West News Service BUCK HOUSE SCARE Buckingham Palace on lockdown after 'man armed with sword' attacks two police officers in front of tourists BOMB SCARE Loud explosions heard as bomb disposal squad seal off town centre to investigate suspect package 'IT'S A … Continue reading →

Jewish Chronicle Mum's plea for cerebral palsy assistance Jewish Chronicle A Jewish disabled mother-of-three is calling on the government to invest in better provisions for adults with cerebral palsy (CP). Emma Livingstone, 41, has been living with the effects of CP since she was first diagnosed as a toddler by a doctor ... Read more from the original source: Mum's plea for cerebral palsy assistance - Jewish Chronicle … Continue reading →

Newswise The Adaptive Sports Academy at Hospital for Special Surgerys Lerner Childrens Pavilion is enabling young patients with cerebral palsy or another physical challenge to participate in activities they never dreamed possible. The academy organizes trips and recreational experiences for pediatric patients to build their self-confidence, encourage independence, and increase physical activity and mobility. The program is offered without cost, thanks to the generosity of donors and sponsors. About 20 patients have signed up for the next trip to Endeavor Therapeutic Horsemanship in Mount Kisco, New York on August 28. Endeavor riding instructors certified by PATH Intl. will introduce the young people, ages 5 to 21, to horseback riding. Endeavor is a PATH Intl. Premier Accredited center, and its mission is to empower individuals with a broad range of special needs by providing the highest quality equine assisted activities and therapies in an inclusive and welcoming environment. The Professional Association of Therapeutic Horsemanship International (PATH Intl.) is a credentialing organization, global authority, resource and advocate for equine-assisted activities and therapies for individuals with special needs. Most of the patients whove signed up have cerebral palsy or another condition that affects body movement, muscle control, posture and balance. Some have had … Continue reading →