Beyond disabilities

Interacting with people who use mobility aids

Probably the most recognisable form of Disability is physical. Yes, it is absolutely true! People using crutches, a wheelchair or some other mobility assistive equipment are almost always immediately identified as having a disability. The question is, is it always true? In most cases, yes it is, however, the severity of the disability is what is mostly misunderstood. Just because a person may be using a wheelchair does not mean they are totally unable to walk. It may simply mean that their physical limitation may not allow them to walk for long distances so they may use the aid of a wheelchair. Continue Reading »

Peer-Reviewed Flexiciser Clinical Trials Published by the Journal for Spinal Cord Medicine

Carlsbad, CA, November 08, 2008 –(PR.com)– Flexiciser International which provides movement therapy solutions for people with mobility challenges today announced that its Clinical Trials have been published by the Journal for Spinal Cord Medicine. The Clinical Trials were completed by Dr. Todd Astorino, member of the Board of Directors of the American Society of Exercise Physiologists, and in collaboration with the Kinesiology Department at California State University San Marcos, and Project Walk Spinal Cord Injury Recovery Clinic. The results of this latest study demonstrate immediate benefits in Heart Rate, Blood Pressure, Ratings of Perceived Exertion and Oxygen Uptake. Continue Reading »

Hundreds of experts gather in Toronto to share cutting-edge advances in spinal cord rehabilitation

TORONTO, Nov. 6 /CNW/ – Is it possible to control devices through thought alone? One researcher is determined to find the answer. César Marquez is presenting the results of a brain-machine interfacing (BMI) study and its implications for people living with limited mobility at a national spinal cord Rehabilitation conference on Friday. BMI technology uses brain signals to control devices like computers and robotic arms. This means people living with physical disabilities would have the ability to control assistive devices through thought.

“The results of the BMI study suggest that it may be possible to use brain signals to control assistive devices for individuals with physical disabilities,” states Marquez, a PhD student from the University of Toronto who is completing his degree at Toronto Rehabilitation Institute (Toronto Rehab) and leading the BMI study. Continue Reading »

Repairing the Damaged Spinal Cord

Once little more than a futile hope, some restoration of the injured spinal cord is beginning to seem feasible

Editor’s Note: This story, originally printed in the September 1999 issue of Scientific American, is being posted due to a new study

showing that nerve cells can be regenerated by knocking out genes that typically inhibit their growth.

For Chinese gymnast Sang Lan, the cause was a highly publicized headfirst fall during warm-ups for the 1998 Goodwill Games. Continue Reading »

Superior Van & Mobility

Superior Van & Mobility is celebrating its 30th year of serving customers. The world of Mobility Products, including wheelchair accessible vans and lifts, can be overwhelming, especially to first time buyers. We are Mobility Experts and are here to help simplify the process for you. Please contact us if you would like further information or if you have any questions. You can call us at 800-458-VANS (8267)

Paralyzed vet finds freedom donning a wet suit

Rio Rancho, N.M. — Jim Hay knows a thing or two about adventure and he certainly isn’t one to shy away from a challenge.

So he was more than ready to pull on a wet suit, strap on a tank, gear and goggles and head into the deep end of the pool during a scuba diving excursion at the Rio Rancho Aquatic Center.

“You are really flying underwater. It’s an amazing feeling,” said Hay, a Vietnam veteran from Albuquerque. “It wasn’t really scary, it was more exciting. It is just relaxing, fun and it’s totally awesome.” Continue Reading »

Botox Injections Bring Relief to Victims of Stroke, Spine, Brain Injury

Best known for its use by individuals, celebrities and models to stave off “Father Time” and eliminate facial lines and wrinkles, the Botox injection is gaining increasing attention for its use in the treatment of a debilitating and painful condition known as spastic paralysis.

Also referred to as Spasticity, spastic paralysis often occurs following a stroke, spinal cord injury, or brain injury. It is estimated that spasticity affects from 19 to 38 percent of stroke patients, often affecting the hands and wrists. Spastic paralysis results from the damage to the portion of the nervous system that controls and coordinates the movement of voluntary muscles (which are the muscles that allow us to walk, throw a ball, grip a pen, play the piano, sit in a chair, etc.) Spastic paralysis leads to stiffness and lack of mobility in these muscles, disrupting mobility, reclining as well as dressing, hygiene, washing, and other activities of daily living. Continue Reading »

Robot suit for rent in Japan to help people walk

TSUKUBA, Japan – A robotic suit that reads brain signals and helps people with mobility problems will be available to rent in Japan for US$2,200 a month starting Friday – an invention that may have far-reaching benefits for the disabled and elderly.

HAL – short for “hybrid assistive limb” – is a computerized suit with sensors that read brain signals directing limb movement through the skin.

The 22 pound (10 kilogram) battery-operated computer system is belted to the waist. It captures the brain signals and relays them to mechanical leg braces strapped to the thighs and knees, which then provide robotic assistance to people as they walk. Continue Reading »

Mexico discovers relief for spinal cord injuries

Developed at the Autonomous Metropolitan University in Mexico City, a polymer shows promise to restore damaged spinal cords in human patients.

Mexican researchers have synthesized a polymer that promises to restore the electrical connections in a damaged spinal cord, which could help injured people recover mobility. Continue Reading »

Specially designed carts mean mobility no longer a problem for disabled golfers

DECATUR – When he was on his game, Dany Baker could shoot a round of golf within a stroke or two of par at his favorite course near Hillsboro.

So when he lost movement in his legs as a result of a spinal cord injury in a 1993 automobile accident, Baker was determined to get back on the course.

Baker’s friends rigged a homemade adaptive cart, fastening a sliding seat from a bass boat onto a golf cart. That sent him back to the links.

“It’s something that really changed my life,” Baker said of the cart, during a recent visit to Red Tail Run Golf Club. “I love golf.” Continue Reading »