Awards

Talk: The use of virtual reality in children with cerebral palsy: mechanisms and therapeutic approaches

Abstract: During the presentation, various aspects surrounding the clinical application of active video games for children with cerebral palsy will be explored. Specifically, Dr. Robert will delve into the findings of a previous study indicating the efficacy of active video games in enhancing physical fitness among children with cerebral palsy. Furthermore, the discussion will encompass an examination of the disparities between kinematics and postural control observed in virtual environments compared to real-life scenarios. Dr. Robert will further elaborate on the crucial role of sensation in facilitating motor learning. Emphasis will be placed on integrating motor learning principles into the design of interventions utilizing virtual reality systems. Concluding the talk, Dr. Robert will spotlight current virtual reality interventions aimed at enhancing both social engagement and motor functions in individuals with physical disabilities.

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Maxime Robert is an assistant professor at Université Laval in Québec City, Canada. His research program encompasses a broad spectrum, spanning from neuroanatomical and physiological studies to enhancing rehabilitation interventions for individuals with cerebral palsy, extending to community-based initiatives. Each component of his research program synergizes towards a common objective: enhancing the quality of life and fostering social engagement for children with physical disabilities. Integral to his research endeavors is the integration of virtual reality as an innovative and effective tool adjunct to therapy, aimed at stimulating and facilitating motor recovery.

Presentation: Hybrid tele-rehabilitation for children: Initial results of a scoping review 

Tal Krasovsky is a senior lecturer in the Department of Physical Therapy at University of Haifa and a researcher at the Department of Pediatric Rehabilitation at Sheba Medical Center. She completed a PhD in Rehabilitation Science from McGill University in 2013, under the supervision of Prof. Mindy Levin, and post-doctoral work with Prof. Tamar Weiss and Prof. Rachel Kizony. Dr. Krasovsky’s interest is in the ability of technology to serve as a barrier as well as facilitator to motor performance in aging and clinical populations. The presentation at WCISVR 2023 is part of a joint research project with Dr. Naomi Gefen, Prof. Patrice L. (Tamar) Weiss, Dr. Liat Gafni and Prof. Rachel Kizony, funded by the Chief Scientist Office at the Israeli Ministry of Health.

Presentation: A movement tracking videogame with a family-centered approach to upper limb rehabilitation for children with cerebral palsy

Daniela is a pediatric physiotherapist from Costa Rica. She came to Canada in 2015 to pursue a MSc in Rehabilitation Sciences at McGill University. During her MSc, she studied the acquisition of locomotor skills during early childhood, approaching it from a motor control theory perspective. Following the completion of her MSc, Daniela undertook a Ph.D. in the collaborative program of Rehabilitation Sciences and Biomedical Engineering at University of Toronto, where she explored the intersection of technology and pediatric rehabilitation. Her current focal point involves the integration of interactive computer play (ICP) technologies, such as videogames, into home-based rehabilitation programs for children with cerebral palsy. She is specially interested in finding successful ways in which these ICP technologies can be used as an alternative motor therapy for children with disabilities living in rural communities and developing countries, where access to rehabilitation services is limited. With her PhD coming to an end, Daniela hopes to continue her research career with a focus on bridging accessibility gaps to rehabilitation care in underserved populations and international settings.

Presentation: Age effects on Performance and brain Engagement during simulation of an internet-based shopping task

Rachel Kizony, OT, PhD,  is affiliated with the department of Occupational Therapy at the University of Haifa and Tel Aviv University. She is also affiliated with the Occupational Therapy at the Sheba Medical Center. Her research aims to explore the role of cognition in everyday function.

Presentation: Combining virtual reality and a splitbelt treadmill to induce freezing of gait in Parkinson’s disease

Gianluca U. Sorrento is a Scientific Associate in the Movement Disorders Clinic at Toronto Western Hospital, University Health Network in Toronto, Canada. He currently oversees the research centre’s gait laboratory. His research interests in gait and posture stem from his doctoral studies completed in Rehabilitation Sciences at McGill University where he investigated the role of haptic inputs in adaptation and post-adaptation effects in gait post-stroke. He has since expanded his basic and clinical research to include populations with neurodegenerative movement disorders, such as Parkinson’s disease. He is interested in how these populations can improve locomotor and postural function with the use of virtual reality, sensory perturbations, and cognitive loading.

Presentation: Using Interactive Computer Play in Clinical Practice in Pediatric Rehabilitation

Marina graduated from the University of Toronto in 2015 with a Bachelor of Science in Human Biology and went on to complete her Master of Science in Physical Therapy degree at Queen’s University in 2019. Since then, she has been working at the Scarborough Health Network as a physiotherapist in the acute medicine and stroke rehabilitation units.

After working with children with disabilities for over ten years as a program coordinator, lead coach and volunteer for the Pickering Soccer Club All Abilities Program and board member for the Centre for Accessible Sport and Play, Marina began her PhD at the University of Toronto in 2020 under the supervision of Dr. Virginia Wright and Dr. Elaine Biddiss. Through her doctoral work at the Rehabilitation Sciences Institute and in conjunction with the Bloorview Research Institute, Marina aims to develop a novel home-based therapy gaming system to improve lower limb function and engagement outcomes for children with cerebral palsy.

Presentation: OCD House – Virtual Reality Exposure Therapy for ObsessiveCompulsive Disorder

Iveta Fajnerova studied psychology and neurobiology, and obtained her PhD in neuroscience at the 3rd Medical Faculty of the Charles University in Prague. She is a head of the VR Research centre at the National Institute of Mental Health in Czech Republic. Her work focuses on the use of VR in research, diagnosis and therapy of psychiatric disorders, with emphasis on anxiety disorders, obsessive-compulsive disorder and cognitive impairments.