Teaching Pediatric, Physical, Occupational, & Speech Therapists to be Great
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As pediatric therapists, we strive to develop clinical skills that enable us to help our clients achieve positive functional outcomes. Over the years, I have developed strategies that allow me to help parents and caregivers achieve this goal with most of the infants and toddlers I treat in a very efficient and timely manner. These are the three strategies that I find to be critical in achieving optimal outcomes in a timely manner: [Read more...]
By Kristen Birkmeier, MSPT
I am using the term learned helplessness to refer to those children who did not need to, but end up totally dependent on others for all their daily physical needs. In the practice of pediatric therapy, therapists treat some children who are so physically involved that their ability to perform or participate in daily activities will always be extremely limited. There are others who have the potential to function with some independence even though they may require assistance for some activities. Many children can become [Read more...]
Checking spinal mobility with a 13 year old child with CP spastic quadriplegia in the school environment….
Utilizing a bolster that allows the child to sit with hips and knees flexed at 90 degrees is very helpful in that the equipment will fully support the child’s weight while you assess their spinal flexion curve by having them flex forward against the bolster.
Fig. 1
Spread your hands and place them in the apex of the spinal flexion curvature on the child’s back being careful not to cross over their spine with your hands. Lean into the child’s back with your shoulders over your hands and use intermittent firm pressure downward to gently decrease the flexion curve by gaining flattening of the spinal curve under your hands. Gradually move upward and downward from the apex of the curvature with 4-5x downward pressure through your hands. [Read more...]
Effective treatment with children who demonstrate neuro-motor dysfunction other neurological involvement requires that as pediatric therapists, we engage them in meaningful activities that are fun, motivating, and challenging. Hitting the target and finding a “happy medium” requires that we have established trust and rapport with both the child and his caregivers, and have come to know what delights, challenges, and motivates the child. [Read more...]
I’m often asked by participants in my workshops to discuss external supports that I use to augment and extend my handling skills when treating the children in my pediatric physical therapy practice. We all learn tricks of the trade so to speak as we develop and refine our clinical skills throughout our professional careers. Over the years I’ve learned to utilize many supports that work very effectively to enhance a child’s functional ability both during and between therapy sessions. Let’s take a look and I’ll highlight some of my favorite external supports for you… [Read more...]
The beauty of the NDT approach for me has always been the common sense and practical approach to assessment and treatment.
NDT provides us with a rational framework for identifying the sensorimotor impairments that each child demonstrates, tying these impairments to the child’s functional limitations, and designing specific treatment strategies to effectively address the child’s impairments in order to effect positive functional outcomes.
Learning to utilize this analytical process enables you to break down what often appears to be a challenging and overwhelming task for young therapists in assessing and treating children with neuromotor dysfunction. Knowing that you are not alone but a member of a pediatric team of therapists working together to effect positive results is very reassuring. [Read more...]
Last month I wrote about the importance of teamwork when working with a pediatric patient.
I would like to expand upon those thoughts to further explain the importance of teamwork as we work together to optimize a child’s functional outcome.
Over many years of clinical practice treating infants and children with cerebral palsy and other neuro-motor dysfunction, I’ve come to the conclusion that in order to truly maximize a child’s functional outcomes, the most successful teams are those that focus their intervention efforts on specific areas of function. [Read more...]
The beauty of the NDT approach for me has always been the common sense and practical approach to assessment and treatment.
NDT provides us with a rational framework for identifying the sensorimotor impairments that each child demonstrates, tying these impairments to the child’s functional limitations, and designing specific treatment strategies to effectively address the child’s impairments in order to effect positive functional outcomes.
Learning to utilize this analytical process enables you to break down what often appears to be a challenging and overwhelming task for young therapists in assessing and treating children with neuro-motor dysfunction. Knowing that you are not alone but a member of a pediatric team of therapists working together to effect positive results is very reassuring. [Read more...]
How do you know if your baby is progressing age-appropriately in their developmental skills? And what can you do if you have concerns and feel that you need help for your baby?
The following checklist was developed to help you identify any developmental areas of concern you might have regarding your baby, and to be used as a starting point in discussing your concerns with your baby’s pediatrician. If your baby needs help, there are pediatric therapists working in your local Early Intervention Program who are ready to help. These professionals work with babies and toddlers from birth to three years of age. Ask your pediatrician to refer you to the EI Program so that you and your baby can get the help you need as soon as possible. [Read more...]