Dr. Robert Palisano
Scientist
Biography
Dr. Robert Palisano is Distinguished Professor Emeritus, Department of Physical Therapy and Rehabilitation Sciences, Drexel University, Philadelphia, PA and Adjunct Associate Professor in the School of Rehabilitation Science, McMaster University. He is an experienced pediatric physical therapist, educator, and researcher. His research activities at CanChild include the development of a system to classify gross motor function in children and adolescents with cerebral palsy; creation of gross motor function growth curves for children and adolescents (in Ontario) with cerebral palsy; the study of quality of life, mobility, and exercise in adolescents with cerebral palsy, developmental trajectories of impairments, health, and participation of children with cerebral palsy, and lifecourse health development of individuals with cerebral palsy. Bob is an editor of the journal Physical & Occupational Therapy in Pediatrics and the textbook Campbell's Physical Therapy for Children.
Areas of Focus
Classification and prognosis for gross motor function in children and youth with cerebral palsy, participation in children with physical disabilities, lifecourse health development
Resources
Gross Motor Function Classification System - E & R
The Gross Motor Function Classification System - Expanded & revised (GMFCS - E&R) is a 5 level classification system that describes the gross motor function of children and youth with cerebral palsy.
Knowledge Broker
The purpose of this study is to evaluate the effectiveness of physical therapists, acting as Knowledge Brokers (KBs) within their own clinical facility to facilitate the clinical use of evidence-based measures of gross motor function for children with cerebral palsy.
What helps adolescents with cerebral palsy to be physically active? Developing a program to support youth based on focus groups.
In this communication we want to share our study protocol as part of a program to support physical activity for youth with cerebral palsy (CP) using a focus group methodology.
Motor Growth Curves
GMFM scores of a sample of over 650 Ontario children with cerebral palsy with varying GMFCS levels have been used to create five Motor Growth Curves.
Move & Play Executive Summary
The purpose of the Move & PLAY study was to gain a better understanding of the child, family, and service delivery factors that support the development of movement abilities and participation in self-care, recreation, and play of preschool children with cerebral palsy (CP).