Our
Center Services:
Physical Therapy
We specialize in pediatric
physical therapy. We work with children from birth through young
adulthood. Our physical therapists have experience working with
Autism, Down Syndrome, Cerebral Palsy, Developmental Delay, Muscular
Dystrophy, Orthopedic Injuries, CVA, Juvenile Rheumatoid Arthritis, Spina Bifida, Tortocollis,
and Traumatic Brain Injury. Pediatric-trained physical therapists provide
comprehensive evaluations and develop care plans guided by a clinical
approach. When appropriate, they use innovative new technology as part of
specific therapies.
Physical Therapy is used to:
· Increase
Head and Trunk Control
· Improve
Standing and Walking
· Improve
Balance and Coordination
· Improve
Gross Motor Skills
· Assess
Need for Orthopedic Equipment
· Improve
Motor Planning
Indicators that your child would benefit from
Physical Therapy:
· Muscle
Stiffness/Tightness
· Delay
in Obtaining Motor Milestones
· Poor
Balance and Uncoordinated
· Difficulty
in Moving Through the Environment
· Postural
Abnormalities
· Muscle
Weakness
· Pain
· Impairment
due to a Neurological or Orthopedic Condition
Serial
Casting of the Lower Extremity
These Serial Casting comments
and guidelines are intended for use in patients 0-25 years of age with
limitation in range of motion or those at risk of limitation in range of
motion. These may include but are
not limited to the following patient diagnosis:
Idiopathic Toe Walking (ITW),
Traumatic Brain Injury (TBI), Spasticity, Cerebral Palsy (CP),
Decreased Range Of Motion, Duchenne Muscular
Dystrophy
Decreased passive range of
motion and or spasticity can be symptoms common to patients with cerebral
palsy (CP), traumatic brain injuries (TBI), Duchenne muscular dystrophy, and idiopathic toe walking (ITW). Spasticity is typically caused by damage
to the part of the brain (motor cortex) that controls voluntary
movement. Patients that present with
increased muscle tone and abnormal movement patterns are at a higher risk
of muscle tightness.
Contractures and hypertonicity with associated limitations of passive
and active range of motion are impairments frequently addressed in the
rehabilitation of individuals with neuromuscular, neurological, and some
soft tissue disorders. Spasticity is
a muscular hypertonicity characterized by a
velocity-dependent increased resistance to stretch, which is known to
interfere with voluntary movement. Decreased range of motion at a joint results in abnormal movement and alignment at that joint with resultant decreased
functional mobility.
Serial casting is a
conservative technique that may be used to improve joint range in children
with idiopathic toe walking (ITW) or spasticity. Serial casting in the cerebral palsy
patient population has been shown to improve range of motion.
Our serial casting uses a
series of casts to stretch soft tissue (i.e. muscles) for an extended
period of time. This is done by
applying a series of casts to gradually improve the child’s range of motion.. The goal of serial casting at the knee or ankle is to
provide increased passive range of motion, prevent complications of
deformity producing positions, allow future uses of orthotics when needed,
and promote the highest level of function and mobility. Following casting, the therapeutic
program includes: home stretching, bivalved casts
used as night splints for prolonged stretching, and ongoing physical
therapy treatment for strengthening and functional mobility training.
Kinesio Tapingâ: What is Kinesio Tapingâ?
The Kinesio Taping Methodâ is a taping technique applied over muscles to reduce pain
and inflammation, relax overused muscles, and to facilitate muscles in
movement. Kinesioâ tape, “ a flexible, latex-free tape that could be used on our Pediatric patients,
neuromuscular, neurological and other medical conditions.”
In order for the tape to be
properly used and evaluation and assessment must be performed. Once the assessment has been performed
the tape may be applied to the specific target area. The tape is applied and pulled to different
degrees of tension depending on the desired effect and result. The tape has been proven to have positive
physiological effect on the skin, lymphatic system, circulatory system,
fascia, muscles, ligaments, tendons and joints.
Benefits
of Kinesioâ Taping:
· Relieve
acute and overuse injury
· Promote
circulation and healing
· Reduce
Pain
· Improve
muscle function
· Re-
Educate neuromuscular system
· Provide
Support to a joint
· Prevent
injury
Speech Therapy
Our speech pathologists
have expertise in a wide variety of areas. They work closely with physicians,
educators, family and others on prompt, thorough assessments and
results-oriented care plans.
Speech
Therapy is used for:
· Articulation
· Language
· Voice
· Fluency
/ Stuttering
· Swallowing
· Augmentative-Alternative
Communication
· Autism
Spectrum Disorders
Indicators that your child would benefit from
Speech Therapy:
· Challenges
with Processing Information such as Answering Questions and Understanding
Basic Concepts
· Difficulty
Expressing Their Wants and Needs by Communicating with Others
· Speech
Sound Errors, Such as "Baby Talk"
· Feeding
Issues, such as Avoidance of Food or Textures of Food
Occupational Therapy
Our pediatric-focused
occupational therapists utilize the most current standardized evaluation
tools to assist in diagnosis and treatment.
Occupational therapy gives us
skills for the job of living. Occupational therapy enhances body
awareness; improving attention and developing hand functions for success
during play activities, school tasks, and daily living. Through
occupational therapy, children develop their sense of self as they interact
with family, friends, and others to learn and play. Occupational
therapy can promote self-confidence and independence through the
development of:
· Attention
Skills
· Sensory
Processing Skills
· Organizational
Skills
· Hand
Dexterity / Fine Motor Skills
· Visual
- Spatial Skills
· Motor
Planning
· Age
Appropriate Skills of Daily Living
· Visual
- Motor Skills
Use of DIRâ/Floortimeä Approach:
The DIR/Floortime Model is a framework that helps our Floortime Trained Speech Pathologists and Occupational
Therapists conduct a comprehensive assessment and develop an intervention
program tailored to the unique challenges and strengths of children with
developmental issues. The objectives
of the DIR/Floortime Model are to build healthy
foundations for social, emotional and intellectual capacities.
· The
Developmental part of The Model describes the building blocks of this
foundation. This
includes helping children to develop capacities to attend and remain calm
and regulated, engaged and relate to others, imitate and respond to
all types of communication. These
developmental capacities are essential for spontaneous and empathetic
relationships as well as the mastery of academic skills.
· The
Individual part of The Model describes the unique biologically based ways
each child takes in, regulates and responds to, and comprehends sensations
such as sound and touch.
· The
relationship part of The Model describes the learning relationship with
therapists and others who tailor their affect based interactions to the
child’s individual differences and developmental capacities to enable
progress in mastering the essential foundations.
As
a comprehensive framework The Floortime Model at
Children’s Therapy & Rehab Specialists typically involves an
interdisciplinary team that can include a Speech Pathologist, Occupational
Therapist or both to develop an individualized functional profile that
captures each child’s unique needs.
Indicators that your child would benefit from
Occupational Therapy:
Infants:
· Stiff
or Weak Muscles
· Avoids
Using One or Both Arms
· Demonstrates
Trouble Grasping Toys or Holding a Bottle
· Unable
to Follow Moving Toys with His or Her Eyes
· Drools
Excessively or Demonstrates Decreased Oral Motor Skills
· Resists
Cuddling
· Appears
Distressed by Sudden Movements such as Swinging, Rocking, Etc.
Preschooler/Toddler:
· Demonstrates
Difficulty with Self-Help Skills such as Toileting or Dressing
· Appears
to Hold Crayons and Scissors Awkwardly
· Resists
Messy Activities like Finger-Painting or Sand Play
· Shows
Anxiety with Movement on Swings or Slides
· Uses
Repetitive rather than Creative Play
· Demonstrates
more Parallel Play than Cooperative Play
School-Age
Child:
· Seems
Clumsy
· Has
Poor Balance
· Resists
Kinds of Touch, Such as Tooth-Brushing, Haircuts, or Tickling
· Shows
Poor Attention to School Tasks
· Is
Unable to Properly Gauge the Appropriate Amount of Pressure on Writing
Utensils (e.g. Holds a Pencil too Tightly, possibly breaking it)
· Still
Lacks Hand Preference after Age 6
What is Applied Behavior Analysis (ABA) Therapy?
Applied
Behavior Analysis (ABA) is the most comprehensive and effective approach to
improving the lives of children and the families of children with
autism. The ABA approach uses a mixture
of psychological, education, and developmental techniques based upon the
needs of the child. This includes
teaching social, motor, language, communication, and cognitive skills.
As signs of
autism begin to appear in a child’s life. Parents are usually the first to
notice the symptoms. They may
observe that their child is not responsive to other people, avoids eye
contact, or engages in repetitive and sometimes harmful behavior. Raising a child is a rewarding and
challenging time for any family, but when children are faced with
behavioral or developmental issues associated with autism, sometimes extra
support and guidance is needed. That’s where Children’s Therapy and Rehab Specialists come in. Our
services are designed to meet the unique needs of children and their
families, helping everyone overcome obstacles and create foundations for
future success.
What is the purpose of an ABA program?
· -Increase
skills in language, play, and socialization
· -Decrease
challenging behaviors that interfere with learning and daily function
· -Reduce
or eliminate ritualistic or self injurious skills
· -Increase
attention span
· -Increase
independence and improve adaptive skills
Studies have
shown that ABA techniques are a proven treatment and the method of choice
for treating individuals with Autism Spectrum Disorder (ASD) at any
level. Even if the child does not
achieve a “best outcome” result of normal functioning levels in all areas,
nearly all children with autism benefit from intensive ABA programs.
Behavioral Services Include:
· -Behavioral
assessment and plan
· -Assisting
the child to engage in or remain engaged in appropriate behaviors
· -Minimizing
the child’s challenging behavior
· -Utilizing
principles of reinforcement to achieve goals
· -Providing
time structured activities
· -Collaboration
with, and support for the parent, guardian, and or individual who
customarily provide ongoing behavioral support
Autism is the most common condition of the
Autism Spectrum Disorder ( ASD’S) a category of
neurological disorders marked by noticeable impairment in areas of
development. It is typically
identified within the first 3 years of a child’s life, and characterized by
difficulties with social interaction, repetitive behaviors, verbal and nonverbal
communication problems, obsessive or severely limited activities and
interests
Asperger's Syndrome, a milder form of autism, is
characterized by children who display autistic social behaviors but have
advanced language skills. |
