Once the wrist and hand is either able to maintain alignment or is supported in alignment, the next step is to increase the child’s awareness of the hand. This girl […]
Neuroplasticity and Hands: Doing The Right Thing, At The Right Time, and In The Right Order
Last week I wrote about Constraint Induced Movement Therapy or CIMT. This photo from the Children’s Hemiplegia and Stroke Association (www.chasa.org) is the best example that I have seen. The […]
3 Steps To Hand Use: Alignment, Awareness and Activation
Babies first explore their hands with their mouth, gradually using them to explore and reach by 3-6 months. Yet even at the stage of independent sitting, a baby can still […]
How Much Does It Hurt? Part 2
Most children and adults with Cerebral Palsy (CP) and Brachial Plexus Injury (BPI) live with chronic pain. The more severe the injury, the earlier the pain onset. I went […]
How Much Does It Hurt?
Three out of every four children with cerebral palsy and the majority with brachial plexus injury have chronic, moderate to severe pain (Level 7-10). In most cases, the pain relates […]
Too Little, Too Late
My last post for parents whose child had been treated in a neonatal intensive care unit (NICU) asked, “What were they told about their babies brain hemorrhage or PVL?” https://www.karenpapemd.com//index.php/when-was-your-child-diagnosed-with-cp/ […]
Impossible for the Child, Possible for an Adult
In the early years of life, we often have to wait for the brain and the body to mature. I think of it as a delay for development, not a […]
Have you decided that your child’s function is “Good Enough”?
When parents are first told that there might be a problem with their child’s brain or nerves, most are hopeful that with hard work and the right help there will […]
Set the Bar Higher
Recently, the father of a child with cerebral palsy asked me how to best discuss the recovery potential of his child. Here is the first part of his question. Q. […]
Quick Fixes for 2014 – Stabilize the Wrist and Thumb
Happy New Year. I am starting off the year with some tips and tricks to get you the “biggest bang for your buck” in the shortest possible time. It is […]