American Physical Therapy Association Report APTA - Report shows Constraint-Induced Movement Therapy may improve arm use in children with Hemiplegic Cerebral Palsy
Abnormal Executive function (EF) profile was considered a major characteristic of Attention deficit / hyperactivity disorder (ADHD) and autism, and is frequently implicated in Developmental coordination disorder (DCD) children as well. This study is to characterize the profile of executive functions and eye movements in several populations of children with developmental disabilities.
The relation between eye movement and brain function is a subject of interest to the National Eye Institute. By comparing eye movement in healthy volunteers to research conducted on patients who have difficulty moving their eyes, the National Eye Institute hopes to develop and improve diagnostic procedures for people with eye diseases. Objectives: To study eye movement in 100 healthy adult and child volunteers. To understand how individuals see visual patterns and how eye movement affects the ability to see.
Effect of treatment on the movement disorder will be measured by a myoclonus scale and a dystonia scale as well as by assessment of overall functional status. Response at various dosages will be compared to baseline for all patients.Safety parameters including neurological examination, blood tests and EKG will be monitored throughout the treatment period and during withdrawal of the medication.
How does the brain monitor the location of the limbs and guide movement ? Lab Research focuses on human neuroimaging experiments and computational modeling studies of motor and premotor cortex.
Constraint-Induced Movement Therapy (CIT) is a recent therapeutic intervention for people with hemiplegia involving restraint of the non-involved extremity and structured practice with the more affected extremity. CIT involves restraint of the less affected extremity of children with
hemiplegic cerebral palsy, along with practice with the more affected extremity.
The Neuromuscular Biomechanics Lab at Stanford University combines experimental and computational approaches to study movement. We investigate the form and function of
biomechanical systems ranging from molecular motors to persons with movement disorders. We seek fundamental understanding of the mechanisms involved in the
production of movement, and are motivated by opportunities to improve treatments for individuals with cerebral palsy, stroke, osteoarthritis, and Parkinson's disease.
Cincinnati Children's Hospital Medical Center. Evidence-based care guideline for Pediatric Constraint Induced Movement Therapy (CIMT). Cincinnati (OH): Cincinnati Children's Hospital Medical Center; 2009 Feb 16. 17 p. [45 references] Guideline Status
Study being conducted to identify specific motor signatures of different forms of dystonia. Study will examine abnormal co-activation in distal and proximal muscles to evaluate the characteristics of the loss of selectivity of the motor command in mobile vs. fixed dystonia. We will also study possible cognitive and limbic components of the disease, examining the influence of cognitive and emotional loads on movement production.
Study being sponsored by the University of Virginia to examine the effects of gentle movements applied to the ankle joint and stretching on self-reported function, ankle motion and stiffness in individuals who have suffered from an ankle sprain within the last year and have decreased ankle motion
NINDS sponsored study will examine how the areas in the brain are connected when they are controlling two finger movements at the same time. Study will examine how people use what they see to help guide two different movements. Studying will further examine the connectivity between the homologous motor areas of the two hemispheres, and between prefrontal cortex and parietal cortex, to understand sensorimotor integration processes during competitive and cooperative dual tasks.
This study is part of a series of studies that will explore how the mind and the brain work to cause episodes of uncontrollable shaking in people who have no known underlying brain or medical disorder. The study is conducted at NIH and at the Brown University Rhode Island Hospital.
National Institute of Neurological Disorders and Stroke NINDS study will use high-resolution magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) to look for subtle differences in brain anatomy between patients with focal hand dystonia (also called writer's cramp) and healthy normal volunteers. Patients with hand dystonia have prolonged muscle contractions that cause sustained twisting movements and abnormal postures. These abnormal movements often occur with activities such as writing, typing, playing certain musical instruments such as guitar or piano, or playing golf or darts.
Running in parallel with clinical care in the Phelps Center for Cerebral Palsy and Neurodevelopmental Medicine are several Phelps Center research projects designed to improve classification and treatment for children with cerebral palsy. Using advanced neuroimaging techniques in the Kennedy Krieger Institute Kirby Research Center for Functional Brain Imaging researchers have identified specific white matter pathways that carry messages from one part of the brain to another.
Special Olympics is a global nonprofit organization targeting the nearly 200 million people round the world who have intellectual disabilities. With a presence in nearly 200 countries worldwide and seven world-region offices, we are constantly expanding. We can say with all truth that "the sun never sets on the Special Olympics movement."