Health / Wellness
New Study on Improving Walking for Children with CP
The University of Michigan Center for Motor Behavior and Pediatric Disabilities has developed a new technique which its researchers believe leads to improved onset of walking in infants with disabilities. A previous study of children with Down's Syndrome using the technique led to a greater than 3-month improvement in the start of walking.
In 2001, the Center carried out a small study of the technique with children at risk for mild cerebral palsy, which showed that the children had increased frequency of alternating steps and improved foot place (less toe-walking) over time, with only 5 minutes on a treadmill every other month. The Center has now received funding for a larger, 4-year study which trains children on the treadmill 5 days per week for 8 minutes each day.
It is now recruiting children to participate. The researchers are looking for infants with muscle problems and motor delays living in the following counties: Allegan, Barry, Branch, Calhoun, Clinton, Eaton, Genessee, Hillsdale, Ingham, Ionia, Jackson, Kalamazoo, Kent, Lapeer, Lenawee, Livingston, Macomb, Monroe, Oakland, Ottawa, St. Clair, St. Joseph, Shiawassee, Washtenaw, and Wayne.
If you would like additional information, contact United Cerebral Palsy of Michigan for a flyer about the program or a document that has more extensive information to share with your child’s physician. Or you can call the Center directly at 734-936-2607 and ask for the OSERS-05 Project Coordinator.
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