Neurological conditions and diseases pose significant challenges to individuals, affecting their mobility, coordination, and overall quality of life. In the journey towards recovery, multidisciplinary approaches are recommended, with kinesiologists playing a pivotal role. In this blog post, we highlight the benefits that kinesiologists bring to clients with neurological conditions and diseases. Personalized Exercise Programming: Kinesiologists excel in designing tailored exercise programs to address the unique needs of patients with neurological conditions. Whether it's stroke rehabilitation ..read more

Thank you to the BC Lung Foundation for this write up: On March 24th, 2024, BC Lung Foundation is hosting its 23rd Climb the Wall fundraising event. Calling on participants to climb the 48 storeys at Sheraton Vancouver Wall Centre, the annual event has been around since 2002, bringing community members together to support lung health in British Columbia.   Pauline Martin is a physiotherapist and the owner of Neuromotion, a physiotherapy and rehabilitation clinic that re-trains functional movement by providing treatment, education, and exercise. With three locations in British Columbia, Pa ..read more

Neuro-Developmental Treatment (NDT) is a holistic, interdisciplinary type of therapy that is used by physiotherapists, occupational therapists, and speech-language pathologists for the rehabilitation of adults and children with cerebral palsy, stroke, traumatic brain injury, and other neuromuscular disorders. NDT takes a client-centered, hands-on, problem-solving approach to treating these disorders that can affect movement, muscle control, coordination, posture, and balance. What is involved in an NDT therapy session? NDT therapy sessions are based on functional outcomes and have specific fun ..read more

Neuroplasticity may seem like a confusing, long scientific word. But it can be broken down simply into the two roots – neuro and plasticity. Neuro relates to the nervous system, specifically the nerves of the brain and spinal cord. Plasticity refers to ‘plastic’ or the ability to be formed or changed. Together, neuroplasticity refers to the ability of the nervous system to reorganize it's structures, functions, and connections in response to activity. Neuroplasticity helps explain how neurological rehabilitation is effective. The brain can compensate for damage by forming new nerve connections ..read more

Why is my child constantly falling over?  Will my child ever walk? What is cerebral palsy? Is there a cure or treatment? These and many more questions are asked all the time–and often. I mean, cerebral palsy is the most common cause of physical disability in childhood. If you like numbers, it affects up to 3 infants per 1000 live births. About: Cerebral Palsy (CP) is a group of neurological disorders and disabilities that affects movement, balance, and posture. If you break up the words, cerebral has to do with the brain and palsy means weakness or lack of muscle ..read more

Winter Sports is a huge part of Canadian culture and a great way to stay active during the winter months when many of us tend towards inactivity (or hibernation). However, many people with decreased mobility, strength, and balance find it difficult to take part in these activities. This is where adaptive versions of common winter time activities come into play.   Examples of adaptive winter sports in B.C. include: sledge hockey, adapted Alpine or Nordic skiing/snowboarding, or even adapted curling. These sports can provide an excellent way to maintain a higher level of physical activ ..read more

Love Your Brain Yoga Traumatic brain injuries and concussions can be isolating and often an invisible injury. But it is a very life altering experience for those who have experienced a brain injury. There is a lack of resources for this population whose needs are high. Integrating back into community, joining an exercise class, going back to work or maintaining social relationships may be too challenging to return to. Anxiety and fear can prevent these individuals from trying to take the next step forward. And unfortunately, the rest of the world is generally unaware of the difficulties life w ..read more

Parkinson's Disease By Jenna Dolphin What do Michael J.Fox, Muhammad Ali, and Alan Alda all have in common?  They have all been diagnosed with Parkinson's Disease. About: Parkinson’s Disease is a chronic disease that involves impairment of movement and cognitive abilities. It is a disease that specifically involves damage to nerve cells which are responsible for controlling movement in the body. When these cells are damaged, movement problems such as difficulty with mobility and muscle control can occur. Parkinson’s is primarily a disease that affects the elderly population, but cases are ..read more

GRASP Class If you are someone who has suffered a stroke and would like to regain some function in your affected arm, then the G.R.A.S.P. exercise class might be a great addition to your therapy!  G.R.A.S.P. stands for Graded Repetitive Arm Supplementary Program and is a program originally developed by the physical therapy department at UBC in Vancouver. The project was funded by the Heart & Stroke Foundation of BC and Yukon. GRASP is designed for individuals who have suffered a stroke resulting in limited function of their upper extremity. (https://neurorehab.med.ubc.ca/gra ..read more

Spinal Cord Injuries By Jenna Dolphin   Rick Hansen (Man in Motion) sustained a spinal cord injury in 1973. Christopher Reeves (Superman) fell off his horse which resulted in a spinal cord injury. Both men created foundations that help with research into spinal cord injuries.   What it is: Spinal cord injury (SCI) is a medical condition that results from damage to the spinal cord. This condition often occurs due to major traumatic events including motor vehicle accidents, falls, violence, or sports injuries. However, the spinal cord may also become injured due to medical issues inclu ..read more