SAMI LUKIS SAMI LUKIS - Cerebral Palsy League

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ON THE NEWS FRONT FACTS In Australia, it is estimated that every 18 hours a child is born with cerebral palsy. There is no pre-birth test and known cure and the incidence of severe disability is on the increase. <strong>Cerebral</strong> palsy is a physical condition that affects movement. TOGS OF A DIFFERENT KIND … Have a blast at the beach … In the past, anyone in a wheelchair has been denied access to some of Australia’s best summer spots. But now, a revolutionary new style of wheelchair called the Northcott FreeWheeler with soft plastic pneumatic balloon tyres, makes it easy to use on sand or snow. The Northcott Freewheeler can be hired from many local councils. To find out more information contact the CP Helpline 1300 30 29 20. TheraTogs ® are a revolutionary orthotic undergarment and strapping system that is worn under a child’s regular clothes. Used in conjunction with a child’s current therapy program, the new TheraTogs ® immediately starts to use new groups of muscles in new ways to improve postural alignment and stability, movement skill and joint stability. By allowing children to ‘take their therapists hands home’, TheraTogs ® provide a simple and effective way of encouraging children to learn new and better ways to move. To date, clinical applications have shown that TheraTogs ® can make an immediate difference in conditions such as ataxia, hypotonia, athetosis, weakness, intoed gait, joint laxity, sensory integration issues, postural mal-alignment and muscle imbalance. For more information, contact the CP Helpline 1300 30 29 20 The Beauty of BOTOX In conjunction with Sydney Children’s Hospital and the University of Western Sydney, The University of NSW held a two-year trial of 40 NSW children with spastic cerebral palsy and found that arm and hand movement can be signifi cantly improved with the combined use of BOTOX ® injections and occupational therapy. In a Prime television story that aired throughout regional NSW, seven year old Georgia Duncan, regular BOTOX ® user and ‘aspiring actress’ was featured. Georgia’s therapist Research Fellow, Iona Novak spoke about the effects of combining BOTOX ® and therapy to help children with cerebral palsy reach their maximum potential. “Georgia can now carry out tasks with her affected hand to pick things up and hold things together – her success is very encouraging”. BOTOX ® may also be used to attempt to delay or prevent the need for surgery, which many children with cerebral palsy require to repair their joint abnormalities. Traditionally in Australia, BOTOX ® is the recommended treatment for children with cerebral palsy who walk on their toes due to calf muscle spasticity. In this respect, Australian research has led the way internationally for recognizing the benefi ts.
Spinal cord injury ON THE NEWS FRONT CURE IN 10 YEARS Whether transplantation of mature stem cells can help babies with cerebral palsy is the study focus of a Medical College of Georgia physician-scientist. Dr James E. Carroll, Chief of Paediatric Neurology has received a two-year grant from the National Institutes of Health to pursue whether brain damage that occurs during the birth of these babies can be repaired with transplants. NSW hosted an important forum to showcase the latest research into a ‘cure’ for spinal cord injury and discuss future directions in care. Keynote speakers included Christopher Reeve and Professor Wise Young, an international expert on spinal cord injury. During the forum it became clear that the scientific community believes that a cure for spinal cord injury is only a matter of when not if, and that realistically a ‘cure’ for spinal cord injury could happen in 10 years. Scientific experts believe that a ‘cure’ for spinal cord injury is likely to have strong relevance for other neurological disorders, including cerebral palsy. As spinal nerves can now be regrown, investigations continue into how to stimulate and trigger the type of desired nerve growth at specific injury sites in humans. Human ‘safety’ trials are expected to start by the end of 2004 in the USA. It was recommended that people with paralysis begin regular exercise now, in order to prime their body for standing and walking in the future. Fit Kids Victoria recently conducted two research projects centred on health and fitness for people with cerebral palsy – the studies were entitled Fit Kids & Strength Training for Adults with cerebral palsy. Fit Kids is a community-based fitness program for young people with physical disabilities. Participants aged 12-17 years attended the 12 week program twice-weekly. Results indicated a trend towards improved self-esteem. While no change in the actual physical fitness of participants was recorded, post program study revealed that participants and their families also believed benefi ts included improved physical functioning, development of new fi tness interests, and an opportunity to socialise. The findings are expected to encourage young people with a disability to participate in more community fitness opportunities. It has been claimed that stem cell therapy may give rise to what could be the long awaited ‘light at the end of the tunnel’ for many parents of children with disorders such as cerebral palsy. This is thought to be possible because stem cell therapy presents the potential promise for re-wiring the defective nervous system, however more generic tissue research is required. So far, scientists know that: Brain cells can be regrown. This new and important fi nding is likely to radically change medicine in the future. The issue for research is how to trigger the growth of brain tissue. Neurone stem cells (in mice) do migrate to the desired areas of the brain in order to regrow new neurones. Areas of ferrets’ brains can be ‘rewired’ to take over other brain functions, eg auditory cortex to process visual information. This may mean that the intended ‘functions’ of damaged brain tissue could be transferred to another part of the brain. Issues such as whether stem cell implantation trigger an immune ‘rejection’ response, and are embryonic adult stem cells more effective in achieving brain cell growth, and implanted cell specialisation, still need to be investigated. FORTY, FIT & FABULOUS Strength Training for Adults with cerebral palsy was jointly conducted with La Trobe University and our Victorian organization to evaluate the effectiveness of a strengthening program for older adults with CP. The 10-week program involved adults with CP aged 40+ years. Results essentially showed a signifi - cant increase in leg and arm strength, reduced time for sit-to-stand and a trend for increased self-selected locomotion speed. Qualitative analysis suggested the enjoyment of the program was a key benefi t and the most common self-motivating factor for participants. Social interaction and participation in a community recreation facility was also important. 5
Page 1: AUSTRALIA 2004 Issue • $3.75 (INC
Page 6 and 7: ON THE NEWS FRONT Inclusion in Scho
Page 8 and 9: Meet the face of our new CP Helplin
Page 10 and 11: BEAUTY BE SUNSMART ALL YEAR ROUND W
Page 12: CULTURAL DIFFERENCES - working in T
Page 15 and 16: YOUR HEALTH CAFFEINE - The Facts Ar
Page 17 and 18: GOING PLACES TRAVEL TIPS Whether tr
Page 19 and 20: GOING PLACES KINGS PARK WALKWAY Sin
Page 21 and 22: And worst Fortunately there have be
Page 23 and 24: GETING AROUND WHATS HAPPENING OVERS
Page 25 and 26: STEVE WAUGH helping children with c
Page 27 and 28: FOOD THERAPY Entrée Live Tasmanian
Page 29 and 30: FOOD THERAPY MARVELLOUS MOCKTAILS A
Page 31 and 32: Photo courtesy National Australia D
Page 33 and 34: “This kind of surgery is not for
Page 35 and 36: Meet rising star, JASON STOJANOVSKI
Page 37 and 38: Rose soaps - These are no ordinary
Page 39 and 40: This job can give you the giggles..
Page 41 and 42: ON THE WESTERN FRONT There is a new
Page 43: YOUR DESTINY Twinkle Twinkle, Look

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