Making informed decisions about care and treatment for cerebral palsy (CP) can be overwhelming, especially with the vast amount of medical research available. Through this guide, we aim to help you better understand the types of research you may encounter and provides practical tips for evaluating studies relevant to CP.
This research studied falls in ambulatory children and adults with CP specifically asking how often they’ve fallen, fall-related injuries experienced, circumstances around the fall, the level of fear or concern about future falls, and the extent to which they do or don’t avoid certain activities due to their concern about falling. This study sets a strong foundation for future fall research, quantifying the breadth and depth of the problem across a large spectrum of age and walking ability.
Dr. Tom Novacheck, of Gillette Children's, describes the characteristics of the 4 types of unilateral, otherwise known as hemiplegic gait, and how the use of clinical instrumented gait analysis can help with treatment decision making.
Dr. Tom Novacheck, Gillette Children's, describes what to look for in each of the 4 different gait patterns seen for those with bilateral cerebral palsy and considerations for each type.
In this 2022 episode of "Let's Talk CP" host Jen Lyman talks with neurosurgeon, Dr. Debbie Song, and physiatrist, Dr. Marcie Ward about their role in the care of Cerebral Palsy at Gillette Children's.
In this new 2022 episode of "Let's Talk CP" host Cynthia Frisina talks with Dr. Tom Novacheck and Dr. Andrew Georgiadis from Gillette Children's about gait, gait analysis, and what makes Gillette Children's such a special place.
CPF Executive Director Rachel Byrne and Jocelyn Cohen, Vice President of Communications and Engagement at Cerebral Palsy Alliance Research Foundation discuss collaboration in research.
Drooling is an important problem for many individuals with CP and there are a number of interventions available to treat symptoms. If an individual with CP or their caregiver have concerns about drooling it is important to discuss with a health care provider. Care pathways such as the AACPDM pathway can be a starting point for shared decision making. In all cases, working together as a team is important in choosing the best alternative. Children and adults with CP may have trouble with drooling, or saliva management. In the medical world, drooling is referred to as sialorrhea. Saliva plays an important role in eating but also can interfere with airway clearance and breathing, as well as social participation. When drooling has this kind of impact it becomes important to consider intervention.
Many children with cerebral palsy (CP) have difficulty controlling saliva. Drooling varies in severity and can be distressing for the children, families and caregivers. Chronic drooling is referred to as Sialorrhea and occurs as a result of limitations in a person’s ability to control and swallow oral secretions.
What do you do when you want to help your child but your local providers don't have the resources? You travel for treatment. In this personal story, Sophia's family describes their experiences traveling to Gillette Children's for treatment, including both neurosurgical and orthopedic surgeries.
It's really hard just to watch someone walk to decide what's wrong with them. A better way is to do what's called Three Dimensional Gait Analysis, and that's where the child comes into one of our labs. Here, we put markers on their face, hands, and legs. We have a computer and a bunch of cameras all around the room. And then we're able to break down the gait into three dimensions.
