https://www.um.edu.mt/library/oar/handle/123456789/47261 2026-04-09T05:48:01Z 2026-04-09T05:48:01Z https://www.um.edu.mt/library/oar/handle/123456789/47273 2019-10-13T05:08:18Z 2000-10-01T00:00:00Z

Title: Independence : a way of life Abstract: In an open society all citizens have a right to an independent life. A right to decide on their lifestyle for themselves. In practice, this right implies that each individual should be enabled to make the most of his or her capabilities and that a range of assistive apparatus should be identified which, together with a policy of selective positive discrimination, can offset any disadvantages. This is one way whereby our society will be able to ensure genuine equality of opportunity".

2000-10-01T00:00:00Z https://www.um.edu.mt/library/oar/handle/123456789/47272 2019-10-13T05:07:59Z 2000-10-01T00:00:00Z

Title: What is spastic cerebral palsy? Abstract: Spastic cerebral palsy (CP) is a brain disorder characterised by impairment and abnormalities of voluntary movement and posture. Deficits in intelligence and language may also occur. This term is used to describe a disorder, which is persistent and caused by a nonprogressive brain lesion. This condition implies that there has been an event or process any time during the prenatal, perinatal or postnatal periods causing a change in brain development, and hence subsequent function. The severity of impairment ranges from mild to severe. The lesion is permanent and static and the condition is life-long, but there are inevitable changes, which occur as a result of maturation and growth.

2000-10-01T00:00:00Z https://www.um.edu.mt/library/oar/handle/123456789/47269 2019-10-13T05:08:23Z 2000-10-01T00:00:00Z

Title: Neuroplasticity and its implications on rehabilitation Abstract: For many years following the discovery that specific areas in the brain are related to specific functions in the body, rigid concepts were formed regarding the central nervous system (CNS) being "hard-wired" or fixed and unchanging. This concept of specificity excluded reorganisation potential in the CNS, and therefore no recovery was expected following a CNS lesion, except that due to the resolution of local factors, such as edema and tissue debris (Kelly, 1985; Bach-Y-Rita, 1989). Reasons for the failure of axonal regeneration in the CNS of higher animals are still much debated. Since the last decade, experimental evidence has shown that the CNS is capable of repair and regeneration to a much higher degree than was previously believed (e.g. Raisman, 1969; Carlen et ai, 1978; Aguayo & David, 1981). Results from these studies showed that following a lesion, the CNS undergoes both structural and functional changes via a reorganisation of its connections, known as plasticity. Bishop (1982d) defined plasticity as the 'morphological and functional changes occurring in the CNS in response to neural lesions'. However, this essay, will debate this definition, in that not all structural changes lead to significantly measurable functional changes.

2000-10-01T00:00:00Z https://www.um.edu.mt/library/oar/handle/123456789/47264 2019-10-13T05:07:58Z 2000-10-01T00:00:00Z

Title: Maltese Journal of Occupational Therapy : issue 8 Editors: Falzon, Tracy; Galea St. John, Ruth Abstract: Table of contents: 1/ SCIBERRAS, V. - Neuroplasticity and its implications on rehabilitation -- 2/ CAMILLERI, C. - Independence : a way of life -- 3/ DEGUARA, C. - What is spastic cerebral palsy?

2000-10-01T00:00:00Z