Veterans
from the recent conflicts in Iraq and Afghanistan will join the other
competitors at the Games this year .

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org. His work has been recognized by the National Institutes of Health, the
International Neurotrauma Society, and American Academy of Neurology among
other organizations.

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The Center will advance these
promising therapies while helping children with spinal cord injuries work
toward achieving their personal milestones, from feeling the touch of a hand
to recovering independent movement.org. For more information on the International
Center for Spinal Cord Injury, visit http://www.

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D.
The 25th National Veterans Wheelchair Games kick off June 27 with a
wheelchair basketball demonstration at Peavey Plaza, as well as the 2005
Disabled Sports, Recreation and Fitness Expo.

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The same novel therapies that produced
remarkable results in Reeve will be applied to children at the new Center . McDonald's advanced restoration therapies (RT) have revolutionized the
therapy and research surrounding injuries once diagnosed as untreatable. McDonald at the
helm, Kennedy Krieger is proud to be at the forefront of spinal cord research
and restoration for the benefit of children around the world.

About Dr. A special first-time
wheelchair sports demonstration will be held at the Mall of America on
Wednesday, June 29. Thomas, Lake
Harriett, the Ft.

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kennedykrieger. Prior to joining Kennedy
Krieger, Dr. WASHINGTON, More than 500 disabled veterans will
compete in the largest annual wheelchair sports event in the world, the 25th
National Veterans Wheelchair Games, June 27 - July 1 in Minneapolis.

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"With our cutting-edge therapies and Dr. "The Games also
serve as a stage where we can show the world what we can do -- to soar far
beyond any physical limitations we might have and reach previously unimagined
levels of success. At the Opening Ceremonies on
June 27 , Secretary of Veterans Affairs Jim Nicholson will deliver remarks,
along with PVA National President Randy L.

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McDonald and his team at the International Center for Spinal Cord Injury
will soon launch a large prospective multi-center trial evaluating the
efficacy of these therapies in pediatric patients in collaboration with the
Philadelphia Shriner's Hospital. military
veterans who use wheelchairs for sports competition due to spinal cord
injuries, certain neurological conditions, amputations or other mobility
impairments.wheelchairgames.org.

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Dr.
Anecdotal evidence suggests that patients can benefit significantly from these
therapies, even years after an injury. Yet because most spinal cord injuries
occur in adults, the vast majority of programs are designed for adults and
then modified for children."
Advanced restoration therapies use methods such as functional electric
stimulation (FES) to help patients with paralysis "exercise" muscles through
activities such as riding a specially equipped bicycle with the help of
computer-driven electrical impulses.
Many of the events will be held at the Minneapolis Convention Center, also
the site for the Opening and Closing Ceremonies.

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Kennedy Krieger Launches World's First Center Focused on Rehabilitation and Restoration for Children With Paralysis

The Center's director, Dr. These
therapies are now being studied for their potential in helping individuals
recover neurological function such as sensation and movement . is director of the International Center for
Spinal Cord Injury at Kennedy Krieger Institute.

National Veterans Wheelchair Games Come to Minneapolis

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"Kennedy Krieger's expertise in pediatric neurological disorders makes it
an ideal institution for this promising approach to helping children with
spinal cord injuries," said Gary Goldstein, President and CEO of Kennedy
Krieger Institute.
"Year after year, the rehabilitative nature of the Games provides endless
opportunities for our wheelchair athletes to pursue their athletic goals and
dreams," said PVA National President Randy L."
At the Games, veterans will compete in track and field, swimming,
basketball, weightlifting, softball , air guns, quad-rugby, 9-ball, bowling,
table tennis, archery, handcycling, a motorized rally, wheelchair slalom and
power soccer.

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Dr. McDonald, M. Pleva, Sr. Pleva Sr.

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The new Center 's interdisciplinary staff
specializes in tailoring treatment plans for children's unique physical ,
developmental, educational and social needs. Sports are important in the therapy used to treat many
disabilities. For many injured veterans, the Wheelchair Games provide their
first exposure to wheelchair athletics.

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"Our clinical approaches have shown that function in individuals who are
paralyzed can actually be restored through patterned physical activity such as
cycling or walking movements," said Dr.

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"

About the Kennedy Krieger Institute
Internationally recognized for improving the lives of children and
adolescents with disorders and injuries of the brain and spinal cord, Kennedy
Krieger Institute in Baltimore, MD serves more than 11,000 children each year
through inpatient and day treatment programs, outpatient clinics, home and
community services and school-based programs. Kennedy Krieger provides a wide
range of services for children with developmental concerns mild to severe, and
is home to a team of investigators who are contributing to the understanding
of how disorders develop and pioneering new interventions and earlier
diagnosis . In
addition to the completion of an ongoing project examining the efficacy of
advanced restoration therapy in 60 adult patients with spinal cord injuries,
Dr. Thursday, June 30 is "Kids Day at the Games," when local
children will visit with the athletes and learn about wheelchair sports.

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For more information on Kennedy Krieger Institute, visit
http://www.
The Wheelchair Games, presented by the Department of Veterans Affairs (VA)
and Paralyzed Veterans of America (PVA), are open to all U.

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Beginning June 30, individual news releases and photos of the athletes
will be available on the Games' web site.

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spinalcordrecovery. McDonald founded and served as director of the Spinal Cord Injury
Program at Washington University School of Medicine in St. Trap shooting, golf and a power wheelchair relay will be
exhibition events this year.
Commemorative activities are also planned recognizing the 25th year of the
event.
From June 27 - July 1, actress Bo Derek, Honorary Chairperson of VA's
National Rehabilitation Special Events, will attend the events to visit with
athletes and present medals. For more information about the
National Veterans Wheelchair Games , or to track events as they happen, visit
http://www.
The 25th National Veterans Wheelchair Games would not be possible without
the support of many local and national corporations, foundations and
organizations that generously support this event.

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Studies have proven that such activity
improves patients' quality of life by promoting overall physical integrity:
improving cardiovascular health; preventing skin breakdown; and reducing the
incidence of osteoporosis, scoliosis and other skeletal disorders. But as additional cases have verified the positive
effects of these methods in other patients, scientists across the world are
reconsidering their assumption that recovery from a spinal cord injury is
impossible once two years have passed. Snelling soccer fields and Como Park.

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John McDonald
John W.

Other venues include South
Town Bowl, Eden Prarie Bowl, McMurry Field, Metro Gun Club, Braemar Golf
Course, the University of Minnesota, the University of St.

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"Expanding this research through
a world-class organization like Kennedy Krieger helps realize the dream of
improving the lives of children around the world who have spinal cord injury
and paralysis .D.

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John McDonald, was the lead neurologist
whose pioneering techniques helped the late actor Christopher Reeve to regain
significant movement and sensation.
Dr. The Minneapolis VA Medical Center and
the PVA Minnesota Chapter are hosting the 2005 Games.

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John McDonald, Lead Neurologist to Late Actor Christopher Reeve,
to Spearhead Novel Rehabilitation Therapy for Chronic Injuries and Paralysis

BALTIMORE, Kennedy Krieger Institute today opens
the doors of its International Center for Spinal Cord Injury, the world's
first center focused on rehabilitation and restoration for children with
paralysis.
While adults can benefit from RT, children may be especially responsive to
these techniques because their nervous systems are still developing and they
are less gravitationally challenged. John McDonald, Director of the
International Center for Spinal Cord Injury., Ph. McDonald also actively leads industry multi-center clinical trials in
spinal cord injury repair, having completed six trials to date including the
first human stem cell transplantation study with the company Diacrin .
"We are proud of these talented athletes, our volunteers who make these
Games possible and the communities that open their doors and their hearts to
these heroes," said Secretary of Veterans Affairs Jim Nicholson.S.

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Early in Reeve's treatment, many scientists were skeptical about these
methods, calling his recovery of sensation and movement a near miracle or
scientific anomaly.

Louis from 1998-
2004.